Great Lake Swimmers

Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels [Album Review]

by oz on April 13, 2009

Great Lake Swimmers

Great Lake Swimmers won me over with the beauty and simplicity of their last album, Ongiara. It was a slow moving album with Tony Dekker’s signature vocals echoing over one or two stringed instruments, usually a banjo or acoustic guitar. The music connected with me deeply and became an addiction for a few winter months. Now it’s Spring and GLS’s latest release, Lost Channels, is my latest vice.

And Spring is the perfect time to listen to Lost Channels. While Ongiara was sparse and desolate, this album is warm and lush. It’s like the sun rising on a brisk spring morning to melt the dew off the grass. And while Dekker is still the force of the band, his presence is more balanced this time around with bandmates Erik Arnesen, Colin Huebert and Julie Fader providing a textured foundation for each song. You’ll hear more electric guitar and even a bit of pedal steel to satisfy your twang craving. There are also more mid and uptempo tracks like “Palmistry,” “Pulling On A Line,” “She Comes To Me In Dreams” and the banjo-picked “The Chorus In The Underground.”

Great Lake Swimmers display more mature melody and production on Lost Channels and Tony Dekker proves that he’s one of indie music’s premier songwriters. This is one of the best albums of 2009 so far.

Website | MySpace | weewerk Records

Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On A Line

Video: Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On A Line

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Great Lake Swimmers release video for new track, Pulling On A Line

by oz on March 27, 2009

Great Lake Swimmers are releasing a new album on March 31st called Lost Channels via Nettwerk Records. I’ve been listening to this one for a couple weeks and the early verdict? It’s quite good. I’ll write more about it later.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Mar 31 – Seattle @ The Tractor Tavern
Apr 01 – Portland @ Doug Fir
Apr 03 – San Francisco @ The Bottom of the Hill
Apr 04 – Los Angeles @ Spaceland
Apr 05 – Tucson @ Plush
Apr 07 – Austin @ Stubbs Bar-B-Q
Apr 08 – Denton @ Hailey’s
Apr 10 – Atlanta @ The Earl
Apr 11 – Asheville @ The Earl (all ages)
Apr 13 – Charlottesville @ Gravity Lounge
Apr 14 – Washington @ Black Cat
Apr 15 – Philadelphia @ Johnny Brenda’s
Apr 16 – Northampton @ Iron Horse Music Hall
Apr 17 – New York City @ The Bowery Ballroom
Apr 18 – Cambridge @ The Brattle Theater
Apr 20 – Newport @ The Southgate House
Apr 21 – Chicago @ Schubas
Apr 22 – Minneapolis @ 7th Street Entry
Apr 23 – Madison @ High Noon Saloon

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