Lakes - Slow Fade ARTIST........: Lakes TITLE.........: Slow Fade LABEL.........: Lucky Art URL...........: http://www.ourbandlakes.com GENRE.........: Indie QUALITY:......: 265 kbps avg/ 44100Hz / Joint Stereo RIP DATE......: 2025-10-10 RELEASE DATE..: 2025-07-04 Tracklist: ---------- 01. Annecy 3:14 02. Trouble 4:12 03. Peach Fuzz 3:31 04. Version 4:54 05. Hypernow 5:19 06. Carousel 4:12 07. Edge of Reason 3:37 08. Faded Flowers 5:10 09. Thread 4:53 10. Toro 3:54 11. Green Eyes 6:34 Total 49:30 Release Notes: In the style of an early 00s mix CD you made for your mate. "LakesÆ first release was their math rock record. Their third was their post rock moment. Their fourth? Well, theyÆre moving past the need of restrictive genre tags now. The fourth record from the Watford sextet, Slow Fade follows a string of records that saw the band borrowing motifs from other genres to brush into their emo orientated sound. Yes, whilst those aforementioned records absolutely continued elements of such genres in their sound both musically and thematically, to dully slap genre tags on them and be done with it would be a disservice to LakesÆ approach. Rather, the sound of this band as a whole is something of a beautiful hand-painted composition. Such musical dollops of paint are not the defining feature of Lakesæ musical canvas, but rather smaller parts of a greater whole. The musical dashings of a brush that help bring to life something far more greater. Slow Fade is makes such a sentiment inarguable and visceral to the point of it being almost palatable. The first record to be released via the bandÆs own freshly launched label Lucky Art, Slow Fade is both the product of the records that came before it and a fresh mantra of æif it sounds good, then itÆs goodö. And indeed does it sound good. The composition that is bandÆs sound has not been defaced by a cheap sheen, but rather touched-up with additional vibrancy. Whilst many a band in LakesÆs collective shoes may have been anxious about continuing such an intricately mercurial sound, or stressed about how to balance all such musical elements in the mix, thereÆs none of this here. Rather, Slow Fade feels like Lakes most concise, organic and carefree record to date. Which is feat given just how more expansive this album can be at times when compared to itÆs predecessors. The initial three track run that is æAnnecyÆ, æTroubleÆ and the summer-ready emo anthem that is æPeach FuzzÆ feel like the Lakes weÆve become to know following their past three records, but subtle indications of greater things are present. As the respective opener blooms from gently strummed beginnings into the glockenspiel and math-rock-tinged emo weÆve come to expect, newfound elements begin to emerge on their musical canvas. Rousing viola, mechanical beats, pedal steel and synth flourishes are present, complimenting a wider painting theyÆve been introduced to. But yet, what makes this new expansionism in sound so brilliant is just how organic it sounds. ThereÆs no forced dynamism or fleeting grasps at shoehorning new motifs here, just musical creativity articulated with a kind of effortless finesse thatÆs awe-inspiring. But as the record continues, an understanding becomes apparent; Lakes know what they want to sound like here, and they present such a vision essentially perfectly. The intricacy that was inherent to their sound has been bolstered and a focus on sequencing and dynamics has been tightened. The punchy lead single of æHypernowÆ may have indicated this, but by no way did it fully indicate just how impeccable and inspired Slow Fade sounds. æThreadÆ animates thoughts of longing and yearning with itÆs post-rock spaciousness and dusk-lit slide-guitar, æEdge of ReasonÆ reflects upon the starry wide-eyed splendour that characterised their debut and the contrastive woodwinds and synths of æToroÆ provide a soundscape filled with nostalgia and anticipation that challenges the emo tag typically applied to this band. Yet, itÆs the longer form tracks that are æFaded FlowersÆ and respective closer æGreen EyesÆ that stand as the finest moments within the finely painted illustration that is this record. Here, all the elements that bind LakesÆ sound û emo, math rock, indie, post rock atmosphere û are boiled, distilled and canted into something unique; portraits of a band unbound by the tags they are subjected to, profiles of artists who know how to capture emotion without the need to rely on time-tested approaches relied upon by others. ItÆs a disservice that Lakes arenÆt already one of the biggest bands in the emo scene. Hell, it would beggar belief that Lakes donÆt become one of the biggest bands in the country alone following this release. In an age where music and emo is being approached as a cheap disposable commodity, Slow Fade proves to be the antithesis to such ills. Bound by creativity and a need to fully present the pressing emotions that lead to itÆs creation in the most authentic and organic form possible, here, Lakes offer a record thatÆs simultaneously comforting, inspirational and ever-endearing. Slow Fade may not be their post rock release, their math rock release, or even their emo release, but itÆs certainly their most accomplished record to date." Score: 10/10