LAKE – Wings Of Freedom (2014)

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A cult band since the mid-seventies, Germans LAKE are returning in full force to the scent with their new album “Wings Of Freedom“.
Lake started as a progressive outfit, morphing into an AOR / rock&pop band during the ’80s (they have a couple of really fine albums from that era) and subsequently turned more classic rock oriented, after thie nineties break.

At the beginning of the new millennium Lake was revived by founder guitarist Alex Conti, and the band toured all over Europe presenting a new album in 2005.
With the new decade Lake started to work on fresh material, and all the songs were recorded but at the time of its release in 2012, they have had to withdraw the album due to quarrels with their then singer, Lloyd Anderson. Entitled ‘Freedom’, a small quantity of the CD was pressed and sold on in Australia, becoming a collector’s piece.
After all the trouble, original member Ian Cussick, rejoined the band (AOR fans may recognise the name for his ’80s solo works).
Then, now in 2014 Lake are presenting “Wings of Freedom”, which contains most of the material of ‘Freedom’ except for three songs which have been replaced by two new songs, and all new vocals by Cussick.

The musical style of Lake 2014 is the classic rock of all times, polished and arranged to the minimum detail. In the ‘German style’ if you like.
“Wings of Freedom” is full-bodied of melodic tunes with infinite harmonies, valvular sounding yet controlled guitar parts, steady rhythm section and keyboards adorning the whole thing.
Among the the more traditional classic rock track we find “Stone Crazy”, the very Euro sounding “Silvia”, the fun and bluesy “Ted Nugent And The Gunner’s Blues” and the quite Americanized title track “Wings Of Freedom”. Lake also infuse a bit of prog rock on “Passionate Eyes”.
All are solid songs, though I prefer the more Melodic Rock oriented compositions such as “Die Just A Little” and the ballad “Nightbirds”.

Overall, Lake offers in “Wings Of Freedom” a good record of classic rock sounds, earthy and gentle.
As said, all is extremely polished and melodic, and sonically, Lake’s output makes you think of a Brithish band in this genre rather than German.
Recommended.

01 – Passionate Eyes
02 – Silvia
03 – Die Just A Little
04 – Stone Crazy
05 – Nightbirds
06 – Ted Nugent And The Gunner’s Blues
07 – Gin And Tonic
08 – Nineteen Sixties Man
09 – Freewheeling
10 – Wings Of Freedom

Ian Cussick (lead vocals, backing vocals)
Alex Conti (guitars and backing vocals)
Jens Skwirblies (keyboards)
Mickie Stickdorn (drums)
Holger Trull (bass)
Jim Hopkins-Harrison (vocal track – #5)
Eddie Filipp (percussion, drums – #3,4,8,9)

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HX67KUW
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