Tony Dekker, lead singer of Great Lake Swimmers, has a gift: a voice so earnest, breathtaking, haunting, and absolutely his own. Its beauty is never cloying, though--nope, when combined with thundering drums, and rolling guitars, and jaunty banjo (example: the new EP's title track "Hands In the Dirty Ground"), he might have the power to move mountains, melt glaciers, or tame wild animals.The Hands In The Dirty Ground EP serves as a stopgap/small consolation until the new Great Lake Swimmers album arrives later this year. A five song collection featuring live tracks, re-workings of previous tracks (Hey, do you own Bodies and Minds...or the excellent self-titled first album? If not, please drop everything and go immerse yourself in them repeatedly.) and a Tom Waits cover, this little gem reminds us of what a truly talented group of musicians GLS are. These songs are not flashy, not remixes meant to trick the listener into a purchase. Instead, they are powerfully subtle in their charm. Take the "miracle version" of Song For The Angels, for example; it's amazing how a little feedback and gorgeous harmonies can add a glow to a simple acoustic song and turn it into another entity: a little quiet flickering flame in the deep, deep dark or "the echo to your yell/the ripple to your dive/the currents under your wave." Available on 12" vinyl or as part of a digital box set containing previous GLS albums (what a rad idea!) this small EP is worth your time and attention; it serves as a good starting point for new fans, and a nice little "howdy, we're still here!" for people already in love with the band and looking forward to their next release.