This CD opens with 3 songs steeped in world weariness. The lyrics of the first song, Palmistry state: "You can see by the lines on my hand, I've been carryin a heavy load." The simple repeated lyrics of "Everything is Moving so Fast" follow the same theme. Similarly, my favorite song on this CD is "Pulling on a Line.", with the chorus. "pullin on a line, pullin on a line and sometimes it pulls on me."

This is a CD that features stunningly beauiful vocal harmonies throughout, based on what band's website aptly describes as "the singular voice of (lead singer) Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. (and) It's a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase." The vocals in "Everything is Moving so Fast" and "River's End" are especially beautiful. The vocals are reminiscent of folk-style Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs such as "Teach Your Children".

Listening to the songs in order the additional themes are estrangement (Concrete Heart) and separation (She Comes to Me in Dreams). This is followed by unexpected sources of hope and beauty such as "The Chorus in the Underground" and the simple bells of "Singer Castle Bells". Further songs such as "New Light" and the last song: "Unison Falling into Harmony" convey a sense of hope and peacefullness though still suffused with sadness.

I continue to be intrigued by the lyrics and drawn in by the beautiful music after repeated listens.

I commented on my own review to give links to a great CBC News interview and album review and also to the band's website where you can listen to full tracks of several of the songs. Enjoy.

It did not take long for "Lost Channels" by Great Lake Swimmers to become one of those recordings I have to get a "fix of every day. This music is harmonic dopamine, quickening the pulse, mood-altering, blissful. The band surrounding main man Tom Dekker proves more than a supporting cast, taking his songs and turning them into shimmering vignettes.

No filler or schmaltz clogs up the recording, and sentiment is discarded for something clearer, the vision and feelings that come from living without resolution or answers. This music captures the spirit of those souls doomed to quest for love and enlightenment in a fallen world, showing that such a quest is noble, if perhaps doomed.

I thought this idea of recording in historic places could smack of gimmickry, but it works: the instruments resonant distinctly and the voices of Dekker and his supporting singers floats clear as a bell from my Vandersteen speakers. For what it's worth, this is one of those recordings that sounds entirely different when played through a very good stereo (I guess one could make that point about any recording, but the emotional impact of this album is just not the same for me when I hear it in the car or on a smaller sound system.)

I think I downloaded this album because it was the special of the day and I live in the Great Lake state, so it's fair to say I stumbled on this band, but I am definitely a convert for this Toronto act. The vocals are subtly understated, so that lines like, "I am in an uproar" take on a certain poignancy. There is a lot to listen to in the instrumentation, such as the dampened bass line in "River's Edge" that adds (I think) a minor seventh where you might not expect it. Lots of little nuanced details to discover after many listens.

This is great headphone music; highly recommended.

First off, Vinyl is better than MP3 by about a million times. There is a lot of air in this music, but to be aloft in it, you must listen to the vinyl version, otherwise you only hear it.

Of the three albums from this band, this is my favorite. It has a very Michigan/Canadian air to it. That probably only makes sense to some people.

Great Lake Swimmers is the one of the best Canadian roots folk/rock bands and Lost Channels is their best album. Finally the band has terrific songs with beautiful sound and production. Palmistry and Pulling On A Line are probably the stand-out tracks, but it's all good. Tony Dekker is clearly a songwriter to be reckoned with. And, if you get a chance, see this band live. They can really play and sing. The only problem I have with Lost Channels is that it gets a bit samey sounding when listening to the whole thing in one sitting. Gorgeous digi-pack packaging and design with Lost Channels too and it is a treat to get all of the lyrics so you can sing along if you like. But make sure you have your spectacles handy as the print is mighty small. What is that, four point font?