Fuse the most fragile and graceful end of the folk music spectrum to the most luminous properties of cinemascope rock, and you have the stunning debut album from Newcastle-based sextet Lanterns On The Lake. Following two rapturously received EPs, Gracious Tide, Take Me Home warrants the use of often over-played adjectives such as “celestial”, “swooning” and “absolutely bloody gorgeous.” For an album debut, that’s something special, because most bands don’t reach such an exalted plateau until they’ve matured.
Following the success of their critically acclaimed debut in 2011, Lanterns On The Lake return with a new album, the sublime Until The Colours Run. The source of the music remains the same, an exquisitely crafted blend of symphonic rock, folk and electronics – but much has changed in the interim. The album was recorded during a time of financial and personal adversity, and as a result, Until The Colours Run is more soulful and dynamic than its predecessor. In sound, it’s both harder and more luminous , and a more emotionally and politically charged experience, as singer/lyricist Hazel Wilde paints unflinching portraits of what she sees. It’s a haunting, often devastating combination.
The band formed in 2008, combining a group of friends who had all played in various bands on the local music scene. The members are connected in different ways; Hazel (vocals, guitar) and Paul Gregory (guitars, electronics) are engaged; the pair used to be in a band with Ol Ketteringham (drums, piano); Sarah Kemp (violin) and Hazel are old schoolmates; while Adam Sykes (vocals, guitar) and Brendan Sykes (bass) are brothers. They’re called Lanterns On The Lake and it’s easy to see how the name and their sound are one and the same.
Thanks to the wonderful people of fkpScorpio, Blitzgigs is giving away a double pass to the show! To grab your free tickets, just email us at winwinwin@blitzgigs.de with your full name and the answer to the following easy question:
What’s the name of the new album from Lanterns On The Lake?
Competition closes 12:00, Monday January 20st. Good luck!
