2011, Nettwerk Records

Recorded in an abandoned grain silo in southern Ontario, this haunting album finds its roots in classic folk music, and while mention of Nick Drake is undeniably loaded, it's an unavoidable comparison. Throw in a pinch of Neil Young's quieter moments and a touch of Cass McCombs and My Morning Jacket (at their most sedate) and the result is the gorgeous sound of the Great Lake Swimmers. With subtle colorings of acoustic guitar and piano, lap steel and accordion, it's Toronto-based songwriter Dekker's voice that carries the Great Lake Swimmers. Addictive like the finest narcotics, this debut is an emotional, stirring album that is not meant to just be listened to. It's meant to be soaked in.