Thursday, January 10, 2013

In FFFocus: Lake Mary "S/T" (Planted Tapes)



Perhaps I’m latching on to the name a bit much here, but, having been born and raised in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I can’t help but listen to this self-titled cassette from Lake Mary (a.k.a, Chaz Prymek) without associating it with long summer days and nights spent at, well, the lake. Though given the name, song titles, and the packaging itself, I’m guessing I’m not too far off the mark in thinking that Prymek draws at least some inspiration for his music from the natural world around him. 

Side A’s “Canopy” has airy string drones that shimmer like the rising sun reflecting off of the water, stirring feelings of simple joy and optimism for what lies ahead. Bowed guitar swells move us to digitally treated field recordings leaving us breathing in the refreshing air and staring blankly out into the distance, while listening to the subtle movement of the water as it breaks along the shoreline. The sun sets in the horizon as the B Side’s “Mardotsha” begins and we are now gathered around the crackling campfire armed with our acoustic guitars. Now lucid, though slightly liquor’d, we fingerpick our way through a number of ideas that feel right in that moment: tender and heartfelt ballads, extended raga-like patterns, free-flowing blues. We drink and play this into the C-40 early morning hours . . . 

. . . and we awake at the crack of dawn and rub the sleep from our eyes, when someone drowsily chimes, “That Prymek dude is one versatile motherf@#*er.”

For more information and to order, go to Planted Tapes

1 comment:

nathan m said...

in heavy rotation here too!