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Ongiara
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Ongiara
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MP3 Music, March 27, 2007
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Track Listings
1 | Your Rocky Spine |
2 | Backstage with the Modern Dancers |
3 | Catcher Song |
4 | Changing Colours |
5 | There Is a Light |
6 | Put There By the Land |
7 | I Am Part of a Large Family |
8 | Where in the World Are You |
9 | Passenger Song |
10 | I Became Awake |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Great Lake Swimmers is the heart-child of Tony Dekker, a singer/songwriter with an unerring gift for melodies, a wielder of precise, piercing emotions that slice through somber landscapes like glinting shafts of light. ONGIARA is the third release from GLS, and the first on the Nettwerk label.
Amazon.com
There is a hushed grace to each Great Lake Swimmers release, a wonderfully fragile quality--a la Bonnie Prince Billy or Songs: Ohia--that is responsible for their devoted, near-religious fan base. While Great Lake Swimmers have been slowly building excitement with their previous two releases, Ongiara is truly on a whole other level, deserving to move them from buzz-worthy to legendary. Singer/songwriter Tony Dekker and company hit all the magical marks on this disc; the fragility is palpable, yet the primarily acoustic, bluegrass-affected instrumentation (from guitar to banjo to upright bass) is meaty enough to make every track feel lush and full. The list of guest performers is equally noteworthy, from Sarah Harmer's understated vocals on disc closer "I Became Awake," to the gorgeous string contributions of Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy, Arcade Fire) on the aching track "Where in the World Are You." Hearing Dekker half-whisper "when the wind takes you/it takes me too" in "Changing Colours" (a song equating the individual growth of two people in a dying romance with the change in seasons) is quite literally the sound of musical perfection. In fact, much of this CD gets better with each listen, and there's no better testimony than that. --Denise Sheppard
Product details
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 5.48 x 0.33 x 5.75 inches; 2.4 ounces
- Manufacturer : Nettwerk Records
- Item model number : 2009589
- Original Release Date : 2007
- Run time : 44 minutes
- Date First Available : March 18, 2007
- Label : Nettwerk Records
- ASIN : B000OHZKB8
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #173,722 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #3,422 in Indie Rock
- #3,489 in Folk Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- #9,112 in Folk (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2012I had never heard of Great Lake Swimmers when this album popped up as a suggestion here on Amazon. I listened to the sample tracks and read some of the reviews and gave it a try.
Ongiara has become one of my favorite albums. The quiet, calm, soothing music and vocals of Tony Dekker are the perfect, relaxing end to days that are so often filled with nothing but noise. The perfect music for a long drive or to play in the background as you fall asleep. Simplicity is Tony Dekker's greatest virtue, but he never lets the music get boring or overly sleepy. It's just simple, beautiful music done well.
There is a folksy americana sound to Great Lake Swimmers that is somewhat similar to Fleet Foxes or Iron & Wine, but that doesn't quite define their music just right. However you describe it, it's beautiful music. Give it a try.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2011I had never heard of Great Lakes Swimmers until listening to their set on Mountain Stage. It was a short set but I knew I had to hear more of this band. This album is richly textured and gets better with each listen. I have been listening to it several times a week since I purchased the CD and have turned several friends on to Great Lakes Swimmers as well.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2008This is just a heartbreakingly beautiful, soulful folk album, like some kind of tear-jerking prayer. I listened to it continuously for the first month I owned it. The recording was made in what sounds like a big, wooden building with gorgeous acoustics, which adds to the resonance of both voice and instruments. While some compare the sound of GLS to Nick Drake, I think there is more innocence to their sound, which gives their music a thread of hope under the melancholy.
I brought this into my high school classroom and my precocious, artistic students immediately embraced it, adding it to their own iPods. Great Lake Swimmers bridge traditional folk music, singer-songwriter lyricism and new folk. I think many ages and generations can appreciate this particular album.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2011If you like americana this will float your boat, these guys should be huge, the more you listen the better it gets, cant fault this album.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2007I am ashamed to say that I was not aware that the Great Lake Swimmers existed until a couple of months ago. As a musician and someone who prides themselves in keeping an eye out for great music, how they, or shall I say Tony Dekker, slipped by me is a mystery. Long story short, I'm glad that I read a review in Paste magazine that prompted me to go out and buy this CD. Without question this is the best CD I've heard in 2007... IN ANY GENRE. In fact, I would be willing to say with authority that I would rank this CD with just about any of the great singer/songwriter CD's of the 70's (e.g., Late for the Sky, Pink Moon, Old. No.1, Flying Shoes, etc.)Yes, it's that good. From the first song, "Your Rocky Spine", you know you are in for something special. By the time you hit the end of the second song, "Backstage With the Modern Dancers" and Dekker pulls out the line, "And out there on the wooden floors, the sweat from their pores, I'm writing a list of songs I can sing by myself." I don't know about anyone else, but I think that's about as good as it gets in lyric writing because of where it lays in the song. It is completely unexpected and extremely intimate, almost too intimate. It's the kind of lyrical risk that only truly courageous songwriters take. There's a spirit of deep longing and melancholy throughout this record, but there is also a feeling of "all is not lost", a spirit of hope that plays off of the loneliness as well. The songs are recorded using spare instrumentation (mostly acoustic guitar, banjo, double bass, and drums played with brushes). You do hear an electric guitar here, a keyboard there, an occasional orchestral instrument, but the arrangements are very understated. The vocals sound distant and are delivered with a sense of urgency and yearning. This is Americana, New Traditional Music of the highest order. As a songwriter myself, what I love about this record is how lyrically open it is and how musically simple the approach is. Dekker takes the kind of chances I still don't have the courage to take as a writer. Lyrically, he writes very cathartically, but it is literate, not contrived or derivative. His musical arrangements are astonishing in their simplicity, but innovative at the same time, such as when the banjo parts are played to create the sense of piano/keyboard single notes or chordal phrasings. All of the songs are great, but the first five come out of the box so powerfully, that he really has you in the palm of his hand at that point. For anyone who enjoys deep lyrics, beautifully crafted music, and a unique listening experience, this is a must.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2019rather bland....... i came across 5 discs by great lake swimmers recently. i like trying out new music and these guys were new to me. i really wanted to like them but i just could'nt get into them. this one has a slight, very slight bluegrassy folky feel with the added banjo. it's not terrible but it's very redundant as all the songs sound similiar and the singers voice is shrouded in reverb in an almost shoegaze style. maybe after many many listens i may come to half way like it but i just don't have the time to invest in it.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2008I recently bought a zune mp3 player and today I decided to hit the shuffle all button. After a few hours the song "your rocky spine" started playing. I liked it instantly but was a bit confused because I had never heard it before. Aparantly it came preloaded on my zune and beat the odds (I have over 6000 songs on it right now) to reach my ears. So the point of review is twofold 1)you'll like this in an instant 2) unbelievably preloaded songs on an mp3 player is good advertising.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2007I give it four stars bec ause it's still new and musically it doesn't seem as safe as the last two. They're trying new stuff and I'm not sure if the lyrics are as well thought out or if its good and I don't get it. I do know there's a lot of beautiful moments so if your a fan then you must buy it!
Top reviews from other countries
- M ELDRIDGEReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product
Excellent product
-
le ptit mathReviewed in France on July 9, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Album parfait pour soirée en amoureux
Vous étes chez vous, en couple, bougie, tendresse et baisé, avec en fond sonore cet album.
Bon aprés c'était ma premiere image mais biensur il s'écoute dans toute sorte de situation. Pas deçu du tout.
- Humanities GradReviewed in Canada on January 5, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Evocative, poetic, and satisfying
I enjoy this album which is on my frequent-repeat list for late-evening listening. It's good to hear music that helps in relaxing both mind and feelings before trying to go to sleep. I particularly love the opening song. I interpret this as celebrating an emotional connection to the rugged Canadian landscape, particularly the glacier-abraded "Canadian shield". The repeated line "The glacier made you and now you're mine..." really resonates with me.
Many other songs, all performed with rich folk styled accompaniment and the fine tenor vocals of the lead singer. Very worthwhile purchase.
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StarlittenAntipathyReviewed in Germany on November 7, 2007
4.0 out of 5 stars AlternativeCountry/Folk-Scheibe des Jahres 2007
In Kanada und Amerika schon groß, tut man sich's bekanntlich mit der Art von Alternative in Europa und besonders in Deutschland sehr schwer. Derweilen können die Great Lake Swimmers mit den Größten ihres Genres mithalten, ohne dabei uneigen zu klingen. Natürlich hört man die Idole (Neil Young und Konsorten) und natürlich sind sie auch nicht die erste Band die ruhige folkige Tracks spielen, aber Songs wie "Where in The World Are You?", "Your Rocky Spine" oder "Part of A Large Family" strotzen vor Charisma und Eigenart, und dadurch SIND nicht nur in diesem Gerne herausragend! Great Lake Swimmer spielen 2007 in Kanada als Vorband von FEIST und werden später oder früher auch in Europa noch mehr Leute begeistern. Ein toller Tipp.
Es fehlt lediglich noch ein bisschen die Abwechselung, sind die anderen Tracks doch sehr laid back und ruhig, teilweise zu ruhig, aber gibt man sich die Zeit einzutauchen, kann es ein sehr schönes Album sein, und eine gelungene Abwechselung und Entdeckung!
- A Nonny mouseReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars No autorip included, beautiful music
Bought this as a present for a friend, the album itself is fantastic, such beautiful music to relax and enjoy. I’m sure they’ll be pleased. Was disappointed with Amazon that autorip was not available with this purchase that is the only reason it wasn’t marked five stars.