It's hard to believe this band is on the same label that put out the best Priests records. LAKE produce music that's unassuming, not in-your-face. The tunes sort of sneak up on you. If you're in the right mood, however, the songs on their new album, Bucolic Gone hit in the best way.
"Ferrari" charms in the manner of any number of cuts from Yo La Tengo where Georgia Hubley takes lead, while the even more mellow "Airplane" is a warm blanket of a song. The material here comes dangerously close to being too precious by half, but there's something modestly appealing about this stuff, enough so that even my cynical heart melted a little bit under the LAKE attack.
At their best, LAKE conjure up memories of Seventies soft rock. Take a listen to "Glad Rags" to hear what I mean. Ashley Eriksson's vocals are as soothing as possible, and the song takes a few nice little twists and turns. Similarly, "Love is Deeper" takes things to the Eighties with the very faintest hint of Tom Tom Club stuff. On this sort of thing, LAKE are a very promising proposition indeed. For these cuts, and the others which feature Ashley on lead vocals, I'd say that this album is certainly worth your time this week.
Bucolic Gone by LAKE is out on Friday via Don Giovanni Records.
[Photo: LAKE]