I instantly fell in love with Lake upon first hearing them open for Microphones and Karl Blau at the final show of Anacortes’s cherished Department Of Safety. That I hadn’t heard them before was the shocking item, being they share a hometown with K Records and also release their albums on the label. Lake’s dreamy psychedelic pop flirts with subtle breezes and forested hills. The harmonies put on display by Eli Moore and Ashley Eriksson mold perfection beyond its previous benchmark.
“You Are Alone” and “Higher Than Merry” is the band’s first release since they gave us Let’s Build A Roof back in 2009. Opening with “You Are Alone”, we find the back picking up pretty much where they left off — heavy emphasis on keyboards backed by dual male/female vocals. It’s soft and pleasant, nearly quiet in its presence. Flip to the B-side and we hear something quite new — “Higher Than Merry” is upbeat to say the least, bouncy with a jazzy feel and outright joyous.
On one side, the Lake we loved in Let’s Build A Roof and on the other a new side of the band that’s a bit shocking, equally as interesting, and entirely fun. This single has it all, and makes their forthcoming record one to surely anticipate.
Download: “You Are Alone” by Lake
[audio:110216-lake-you-are-alone.mp3|titles=You Are Alone|artists=Lake]
K Records [7″ Single, 2011]
1. You Are Alone
2. Higher Than Merry