Forces Of Nature
Splice, 2020
9/10
Previously a long time New Orleans resident, Colin Lake was in the midst of a big transition in his life while recording this 3rd album, as him and his wife were in the process of switching to life on a sailboat.
During this endeavor, Lake and producer Eric Heigle worked on one track at a time- a new concept for the pair- and eventually enough tunes were collected for this very versatile and reflective listen.
“Extraordinary Times” starts the listen with warm organ as playful guitar and Lake’s smooth, soaring pipes guide the timeless rocker that’s part classic rock, part roots rock and part piano rock, and “Last Days Of The Dark Age” follows with a much calmer spirit as Lake embraces a soulful quality to his very mature song craft that addresses the fear and violence plaguing society today.
Halfway through, “Siren’s Song” moves soothingly, with soft brass alongside a very New Orleans inspired delivery that you won’t forget anytime soon, while “Forces Of Nature” displays bluesy electric guitar prowess and piano acrobatics in the lively climate.
“Stars” and “Cross Over The River” exit the affair, where the former is a finger snapping and dreamy execution of retro-rock, and the latter glides hazily with an Americana quality that’s indebted to earlier decades in its sublime nature.
A listen that’s as adventurous as Lake is in real life, Forces Of Nature mixes love songs with topical tunes about the status quo, as his meshing of soul, blues and rock is a fluid and highly enjoyable listen. Although he’s a man of the sea now, let’s hope he still finds shore enough to record more music, cause we’re all better off for spending time with Lake’s songwriting.
Travels well with: Sadler Vaden- Anybody Out There?; Aaron Lee Tasjan- Karma For Cheap