Lake have been around since 2005 and this is their eighth album. They are a husband and wife duo who have composed for Adventure Time (Cartoon Network) and are heavily influenced by the 1970's soft rock of bands such as Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan. They write very accessible music, 'nice' music if you will. Ashley Eriksson has a predilection for narrative songwriting and Elijah Moore takes a more philosophical approach to the task.
'Turn Around' is a good opener. A bit of a goose bumper and it sets the tone well for what is to follow. Simplicity, clarity and melody reigns supreme in their world. Pop, pop and more pop. And I suppose therein lies the rub? For some this will be mana from heaven and for others (the more cynical among us perhaps?) it will simply be too saccharine. 'Work With What You Got' IS Steely Dan. 'Gone Against The Wind' is the return of the Mac and no I don't mean Mark Morrison unfortunately! 'Trouble' sounds indie like The Sundays maybe?
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The album suffers from saggy middle syndrome (what album doesn't in a world of increasingly shorter attention spans?) and then finishes well with the titular track (more Steely), 'We Can Work It Out' (less Beatles more Sundays) and 'Magazine'. 'Push and Pull' is also worthy of a mention as it has sparkle but also enough undertow to grip. Maybe a little love song for the missus that one?
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