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In a voice so fragile a strong breeze might overpower it, he offers sober ruminations on loneliness, life, love, longing, and artfully infuses each song with just the right amount of banjo, light drumming, acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies (often courtesy of the stellar Julie Fader).
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On their fourth album, Tony Dekker and his revolving cast of co-conspirators walk a little taller than on previous releases, employing a larger, more band-oriented sound that lovingly elevates (and amplifies) Dekker's simple, refined melodies into something both peaceful and majestic.
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Lost Channels is still comforting, except now instead of misery finding company, Great Lake Swimmers have made an album that reaches down, and pulls you out of the darkness and into the light that was always there.
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While it might be criticised for not having some of the mystery characterising previous albums, Lost Channels is a blissful yet haunting record.
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The consistency from past to present is resolute and the drifting more uplifting than heard before, but the moments of poignancy heard on earlier records still ring truest.
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Altogether, Lost Channels marks a step forward for the Swimmers, one that--along with their relentless touring (and there's no questioning the indie-ness of that)--should be sufficient to keep their star on the rise.
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When Dekkar slows things down, it feels like a choice and not a limitation. He and his band never missed with their first three albums, but they've made some necessary discoveries on this one.
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Under The RadarLost Channels at times taps the hushed intensity of Low's hymnals, but the tracks like 'She Comes To Me In dreams' ring happily with the implied twang of R.E.M.'s early albums. [Spring 2009, p.76]
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Alternative PressThough some tracks lull more than thrill, that seems to be the goal. [May 2009, p.114]
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Dekker has always seemed to me more metaphysical than mystical, but on this outing some of the lyrics are starting to edge closer to the easy contentedness of finding salvation through natural beauty instead of finding existential insignificance in the similarities of all matter. That said, there’s a good mix of elements here, and the increased focus on the diversity of the musical side of things takes the spotlight off the lyrics to a certain extent.
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Great Lake Swimmers’ pleasures are deceptively simple, but one can’t help but get held up by the tactile surfaces of their elaborate simulacrum of shamanistic folk.
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UncutFans of Iron & Wine and The Acorn take note. [Jun 2009, p.96]