Great Lake Swimmers
Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian indie folk band which formed in 2003 in W… Read Full Bio ↴Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian indie folk band which formed in 2003 in Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada. The band began with Tony Dekker (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Erik Arneson (banjo, guitar, harmonium), Bret Higgens (bass), Julie Fader (keyboards, vocals) and Greg Millson (drums). Julie Fader subsequently left, and Miranda Mulholland, on violin and backing vocals, joined.
Fifty-five years ago, Marilyn Bell took a plunge and traversed Lake Ontario. Back then, being a Great Lake swimmer was a big deal; now, it's an astonishing physical feat taken for granted. It's a rapidly forgotten part of history, like a faded map or a tattered photograph. Or a lost channel.
Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world - though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."
The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years—with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen — Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.
Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it.
To record LOST CHANNELS, Dekker and company went upstream on the St. Lawrence River to the Thousand Islands, halfway between Toronto and Montreal, a historic and picturesque area that straddles the Canadian/American border, and has been designated a World Biosphere Region. Great Lake Swimmers arrived at the invitation of fan and Thousand Islands photographer/regional historian Ian Coristine (www.1000islandsphotoart.com).
Coristine was able to arrange for the band to record in a number of acoustically unique spaces within the region, including one of the area's most storied landmarks, Singer Castle on Dark Island, near Hammond, NY (www.singercastle.com); as well as the historical Brockville Arts Centre (www.brockvilleartscentre.com); and at St. Brendan’s Church in Rockport, ON.
Additional recording took place at Halla and the Lincoln County Social Club in Toronto and the album was woven into a cohesive whole at the House Of Miracles, in London, ON, with long-time Great Lake Swimmers collaborator, Andy Magoffin.
That the album was created in both rural splendour and urban Ontario makes perfect sense for a band that has always navigated the parallels between natural and urban rhythms. River imagery recurs throughout LOST CHANNELS; the title of the album is a reference to a certain passage of the St. Lawrence, close to the recording locale, where a reconnaissance boat from a British warship went mysteriously missing in 1760. There’s no specific reference to the incident in the lyrics, though there are plenty of night skies, howling winds and raging rivers in almost every song which captures an elusive sense of mystery. As the album closes, Dekker sings the final lyrics—“Like the unstoppable river… Your beauty is gentle/ but forceful, and fast”—before the band ends on a suspended note. There is no resolution there, only eternity, a continuum, an endless river.
LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.
Four albums into an already-rich and storied career, Great Lake Swimmers’ live show has won them ever-expanding audiences in the United States and Europe, and of course their native Canada. In 2008 Great Lake Swimmers shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Feist, Bela Fleck & The Sparrow Quartet, Hayden, Goldfrapp, Bill Callahan of Smog, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.
Fifty-five years ago, Marilyn Bell took a plunge and traversed Lake Ontario. Back then, being a Great Lake swimmer was a big deal; now, it's an astonishing physical feat taken for granted. It's a rapidly forgotten part of history, like a faded map or a tattered photograph. Or a lost channel.
Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world - though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."
The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years—with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen — Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.
Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it.
To record LOST CHANNELS, Dekker and company went upstream on the St. Lawrence River to the Thousand Islands, halfway between Toronto and Montreal, a historic and picturesque area that straddles the Canadian/American border, and has been designated a World Biosphere Region. Great Lake Swimmers arrived at the invitation of fan and Thousand Islands photographer/regional historian Ian Coristine (www.1000islandsphotoart.com).
Coristine was able to arrange for the band to record in a number of acoustically unique spaces within the region, including one of the area's most storied landmarks, Singer Castle on Dark Island, near Hammond, NY (www.singercastle.com); as well as the historical Brockville Arts Centre (www.brockvilleartscentre.com); and at St. Brendan’s Church in Rockport, ON.
Additional recording took place at Halla and the Lincoln County Social Club in Toronto and the album was woven into a cohesive whole at the House Of Miracles, in London, ON, with long-time Great Lake Swimmers collaborator, Andy Magoffin.
That the album was created in both rural splendour and urban Ontario makes perfect sense for a band that has always navigated the parallels between natural and urban rhythms. River imagery recurs throughout LOST CHANNELS; the title of the album is a reference to a certain passage of the St. Lawrence, close to the recording locale, where a reconnaissance boat from a British warship went mysteriously missing in 1760. There’s no specific reference to the incident in the lyrics, though there are plenty of night skies, howling winds and raging rivers in almost every song which captures an elusive sense of mystery. As the album closes, Dekker sings the final lyrics—“Like the unstoppable river… Your beauty is gentle/ but forceful, and fast”—before the band ends on a suspended note. There is no resolution there, only eternity, a continuum, an endless river.
LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.
Four albums into an already-rich and storied career, Great Lake Swimmers’ live show has won them ever-expanding audiences in the United States and Europe, and of course their native Canada. In 2008 Great Lake Swimmers shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Feist, Bela Fleck & The Sparrow Quartet, Hayden, Goldfrapp, Bill Callahan of Smog, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.
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Great Lake Swimmers Lyrics
08 imaginary bars When the sun fell down and fell asleep Drunk from drinking…
Alone but Not Alone The wire is mended, awaiting the deep Out on the water…
awake I became awake From a very dark place Patchwork of fear of…
Backstage With the Modern Dancers Backstage with the modern dancers She was stretching her arm…
Ballad of a Fisherman What the hell is going on here? Took my living and…
Ballad of a Fisherman's Wife What the hell is going on here? Took my living and…
Bodies and Minds O hold me O holy O golden O grace Down here…
Catcher Song Well the ropes are taut, And the stories have all been…
Changes With the Wind Out on a night, weightless and beyond design Light headin’ …
Changing Colours You look at me with uncertainty You look at me with…
Concrete Heart This was the centre of the world for me once Where…
Cornflower Blue Run through cornfields, the fire’s lit Coyotes are crying, …
Easy Come Easy Go Easy come and easy go That's what they say When they're ab…
Everything Is Moving so Fast What sort of pressure, and what kind of force Must there…
Faithful Night Listening As I sit here on this curb In the middle of…
Falling Into the Sky Breathing this poison, alive but near death Under the water,…
Fiathful Night Listening As I sit here on this curb In the middle of…
Fields of Progeny Old melody that I tried to learn When I gave myself…
Gonna Make It Through This Year I am six feet under snow And I have nowhere to…
Great Lake Swimmers The currents want to pull you down The bottom is empty,…
Hands In Dirty Ground I will be A tree climber I will not know gravity I will…
Hang a String of Lights Take all the boxes wrapped up for almost a year Let's…
I Am Part of a Large Family I am fighting and I am fighting Kicking and screaming and…
I Became Awake I became awake From a very dark place Patchwork of fear of…
I Could Be Nothing It goes on forever along the shoreline It never will end…
I Saw You in the Wild I saw you in the wild I saw you in the…
I Tried To Reach You I tried to reach you When heaven came offering Bearing arro…
I Will Never See the Sun I will never see the sun Spadina, St. George, Bay, and…
Imaginary Bars When the sun fell down and fell asleep Drunk from drinking…
Let's Trade Skins My heart is with you, its many dark corners Its rings…
Long Into the Evening It's only human to wonder why It's only animal to do…
Merge a Vessel a Harbour Merge, a vessel, a harbour A perfect union Of gift and recep…
Moonlight Stay Above Shadows, get behind Darkness, stay away And leave me Leave m…
Moving Pictures Silent Films Oh wake me please when this is over Oh when the…
Moving Shaking I can't write, I can't sing, I can't play My insides…
New Light The sound of breathing, the silence intense The hearts are …
New Wild Everywhere There is a fire in the study Whisper in the…
On the Water I was on the water when it began to heave And…
Palmistry You see by the lines on my hands I've been carrying…
Parkdale Blues A neighbor says it’s been around years since the 70’s Knows…
Passenger Song One thing I'll say for the less traveled way Doesn't have…
Pulling on a Line The line runs through like a train in a book Or…
Put There By the Land There's a mark on my hand put there by the…
Quiet Your Mind It’s hard sometimes, I know When you try to close your…
River's Edge River's edge, so quiet and full of potential With weeping t…
See You On The Moon When I grow up maybe I'll be a veterinarian I'll take…
She Comes to Me in Dreams I am in an uproar, are you coming to me Just…
Song for the Angels The echo to your yell The ripple to your dive The currents…
Stealing Tomorrow Is this place shaking or is it me Why can't I…
Still I'm still turning myself to the great key, I'm still,…
The Animals of the World Watching the night animals Bellying close to the ground I wa…
The Chorus in the Underground I went downstairs to hear the sound Broke and lean, and…
The Desperate Kingdom Of Love Oh love, you were a sickly child And how the wind…
The Great Exhale Look at the names carved into us Look at the days…
The Knife Point’s so sharp that it cannot feel Has two sides. Which…
The Man With No Skin If I could crawl into a shell Then I would a…
There Is a Light There is a light in you, I have fallen into There…
Think That You Might Be Wrong What time is it? Would you tell me, wolf? Are you coming…
This Is Not Like Home In from the oceans they came Vision of shirt and a…
This Is Not Like Home - Live In from the oceans they came A vision, a shirt, and…
Three Days At Sea First day, I was lost at sea I had nothing to…
To Leave It Behind When we were greened and young as shoots The world took…
To Leave It Behind - Band Version When we were greened and young as shoots The world took…
Unison Falling Into Harmony Is gravity the same for you Or have you fallen deeply…
Various Stages I have seen you in various stages of undress. I have…
When It Flows When it flows from the fingers And turns to stone It shatter…
When The Storm Has Passed Big smoke in the rear view Escape and relief in a…
Where in the World Are You I've been looking in churches and looking in bars Thought th…
wild There is a fire in the study Whisper in the…
Your Rocky Spine I was lost in the lakes And the shapes that your…