MOG Editorial Review

Toronto act Great Lake Swimmers have always had a penchant for spooky, intimate folk-rock, but Lost Channels is the first effort from Tony Dekker that can be described as uplifting. While tracks like "Everything Is Moving So Fast" often evoke the sensation of walking quietly through a dark forest, standout "Still" is brimming with positive energy even if it keeps the band's intimate aesthetic in tact. Elsewhere, "She Comes to Me in Dreams" is the closest the band has come to anthemic alt-rock, and "Singer Castle Bells" finds them experimenting with lush orchestration, albeit briefly. Over the last few years, many indie folk bands have faltered in making sincerely personal songs, but Great Lake Swimmers continue to make the kinds of moody tunes perfect for our cold, quiet days alone.