MONDAY, JULY 23, 2007
From the very first banjo strokes, Ongiara (Nettwerk) invites comparisons to some of the big names of indie folk: Neil Young, Iron & Wine, Nick Drake, and Sufjan Stevens. While this could be considered a somewhat stifling group to work in (whos going to want to try to compete with Neil Young??), the Great Lake Swimmers perform admirably, and manage to present a sound that is distinctly their own. The third album from the Ontario-based band is in no way a departure from their previous two albums, but rather works on developing their sound, to varying degrees of success.
The opening track, Your Rocky Spine clearly shines as the winner of the album. The lyrics present a spirited love song that could be read dually as devoted to Canadas famed landscape, or as the exploration of a lovers body. Along with Put There By The Land, this song serves to present the environmental leanings of the group, and to their credit, the crunchiness doesnt make you want to vomit. Still, only Canada could produce something like green indie folk.
Tony Dekkers voice has the kind of softness and vulnerability that lends itself to what has been described as ambient folk. But on this particular album, Serena Ryder and Sarah Harmer add background vocals
particularly on the choruses. At times, it works well. At others, it falls just short of the Indigo Girls headlining the Lilith Fair. Perhaps it is an attempt to step up the game from the previous two albums
especially since there are other guest appearances from the likes of Bob Egan of Blue Rodeo (pedal steel and dobro) and Owen Pallett of The Arcade Fire (string arrangements)
but sometimes Ongiara sounds like there are too many cooks spoiling the broth; especially given Dekkers talent.
Lyrically, Decker has just as many ups and downs as the album. Where Your Rocky Spine, Changing Colours, and I Become Awake have some great lines, Backstage With The Modern Dancers and I Am Part Of A Large Family are clunky in places. In the case of the latter song, its all a shame because the stanzas far outshine the chorus. Then theres Put There By the Land, which has six lines. I dont even know if its actually legal to say you wrote the words to a song when its only six lines. Liner note readers will also enjoy the added bonus of Deckers homonyms in the songs, like singing piece instead of peace. And all that time I had been singing it wrong!
Named after the Harbor boat that took the band to their initial recording sessions on a Toronto Island (for their first album), Ongiara seems to signify the band trying to arrive on the scene. Many of the songs have a poppy, down-to-earth melody that recalls days relaxing on the porch out in the country, which should go a long way to making their efforts at converting fans worthwhile. Some of the extra adornments may come off as a little too much, but it will just come down to matters of personal taste in folk. Much like a boat ride, their trip might be a little rocky at times, but theyll probably make it there in one peace (thats for you, Tony). - Eric Silver
