“Just another day in Vienna,” says Ashley. For the filming session on the grey morning after their Vienna show the Olympia-based band Lake (here with Ashley, Andrew, Eli and Lindsay) is joined by Karl Blau, who is also from Washington, but from the smaller city Anacortes. On a huge, yet deserted open-air stage the quintet goes for the mellow “Breathing”, a song of subtle catchiness. The more the song advances, the more the scenery opens up and makes you feel either abandoned on the wide ground or buoyant under the open sky. It’s all about the nuances. Karl Blau, who is actually having his birthday on the day of the filming at the end of February, also chooses a setting that is far from being classy for “Hey Low, Halo”. Beside heavy traffic, smokestacks, a demolition site and a display board showing you the way out of Vienna, Karl is singing from “heavenly grace”, accompanied by Ashley’s and Andrew’s dulcet clapping and hey lowing, haloing. At times melancholy, these softly gleaming songs still know how to smooth away your problems. No wonder, as the musicians bring up joy or even grace at places that might have seemed dismal at a first glance.

laketheband.com
kelplunacy.com
myspace.com/karlblau