Great Lake Swimmers

BIOGRAPHY

Great Lake Swimmers, fronted by lead singer/songwriter Tony Dekker, released their newest album, Uncertain Country (Harbour Songs/Fontana) this spring. The new album is the band's first new music in almost five years, and richly compliments their two decades deep musical catalogue.

Uncertain Country is 11 songs that track a prolonged period of collective anxiety. Though recorded in different locales—largely around the Niagara region, and with a variety of musicians—a theme of questioning runs throughout. Even before the world turned upside down, Dekker felt mired in uncertainty: from the climate crisis and the ever-changing political landscape to deep shifts within the music industry. The “uncertain country” Dekker chose as the album’s theme is not a specific place. Rather, it’s a territory we, as humans, inhabit in the 21st century — a world that, more often than not, is confusing, unfamiliar and unsettling.

Doubt, followed by discovery. Demos that ended up as finished tracks. New beginnings, rear-view reflections, and ruminations on the fluidity of time, these were the key drivers and realities of Uncertain Country. What started out four years ago as a 10-day trip to the north shore of Lake Superior, inspired a collection of musical field recordings at various locations around the Niagara region (where Dekker now lives) and served as the album's organic recording studio.

“Long-time Great Lake Swimmers listeners will find much that they know, from a strong current of nature imagery to Dekker’s wistful & emotive vocal delivery, but also plenty of new territory to discover. Those who are new to the band will find a rich variety of emotional dynamics & musical approaches that still has a coherent core. 'Uncertain Country' stands as some of the strongest & most consistent work by one of Canada’s best bands,” notes the review from Great Dark Wonder.

“Swimming Like Flying’ (which) has the hallmark driving guitars and vocals which make the band sound so distinctive, and a melody to kill for,” swoons AmericanaUK.