Lake Nakoma - Lake Nakoma (2023)

The self-titled debut album from Alabama-based duo Lake Nakoma captivates with a mixture of warming folk and synth-touched atmospherics. Comprising producer/composer Heath Fogg (also the guitarist in Alabama Shakes) and singer/songwriter Colin Woltmann, Lake Nakoma craft a dreamily inviting charm, propelled by Woltmann’s soothing vocals and Fogg’s myriad of instrumentation, ranging from tasteful guitar tones to synths, drum machines, and programed beats.

“Burying Old Bones” presents a comforting, accessible entry point. Quaint acoustics and springtime ambience complement serene vocals that reflect on how “people change,” bolstered gradually by electric guitar adornments. A rousing mid-point build finds acoustical shimmering lead with momentum into glistening guitars and emotively soaring vocals. The title-touting refrain sends chills here.

Stirring with its depictions of imperfections, and how one’s presence can prove dramatically uplifting, “When You’re Around” succeeds with a more traditional folk gentleness. The whisper-y vocal presence and gentle acoustics show shades of early Sufjan Stevens. In a different spectrum, “Reflection” embraces nocturnal synth tones alongside the debonair guitar hints. Upticks in vocal intensity, like past the two-minute turn, engross amidst the gorgeous synth-led soundscape. Lake Nakoma stirs with its blend of folk-minded emotion and electronic-oriented soundscapes alike.