“Lake” – The Evening Cast

The Evening Cast might be a fledgling act, but their stellar debut EP Lake proves the Victorian band is a force to be reckoned.

This is a lush recording, with exquisite layered harmonies and rich orchestration. It takes some talent to ensure a big sound doesn’t become a mess of noise, but The Evening Cast are up to the challenge. No doubt they’ve been guided well by the production team of Joe Laporta (Bjork, Foo Fighters) and Marty Brown (Clare Bowditch, Art of Fighting). The skills of these supporting players make this disc seem more polished than most debuts.

I love the poetic lyrics and quirky romantic of the EP opener “Knots and Bows”. The poppy “Surprise” and “Heartbeat” are pure joy. Not that it’s all sweetness and light though. “No Stopping” shows a darker determination with its pounding pianos and earnest vocals. I really felt this one.

At seven tracks, Lake is much longer than most EPs. It feels more like a mini album than an EP. It’s a bit risky for a new act to take on such an ambitious release, but The Evening Cast are up to the challenge. There are no filler tracks here. Lake is an excellent debut that shows the promise of this exciting Aussie act.