In an interview with Sounds That Matter, singer songwriter Mark Fain answers the question of what song of his he would bring to listen to if he were stranded on an island for the rest of his life:

Mark Fain: Trials. That’s probably the most evocative song on the album. At least to me, it is.

Crystal: And you could listen to it forever?

Mark Fain: I guess if I were on an island, I’d want to remember the good things. Even though that’s a really sad song, it would still remind me of the emotions between people.

As such, Trials has been on repeat on my IPod since I read this interview. The whole album has been in fact. I’m in deep, and I have no intention of trying to get out. I’m trying to dissect the tender heartache, the catharsis, the notion of love and loss, and all the beauty contained therein. And believe me, “Balfour” has a lot of it. Emotions between people seems to be what the entire album explores.

Formed in 2010, Midwest indie folk band Gun Lake released their debut LP “Balfour” in March of this year and I’ve got to say, I’m smitten. Recorded with renowned Ann Arbor sound engineer Jim Roll, each song is an exercise in tempered control and release, layered richness and a deceptively simple sound that unfolds around you with each chord, each word, each strum and pluck. While Fain leads on vocals, each member adds his voice to create a harmonic quality that feels like the memory of a lovers fingertips on your smiling face: reverence and possibility and past and present collide. I can listen to this album over and over again. And believe me, I have.

For a relatively new band, you’d expect a rougher quality, but Gun Lake comes across as extremely polished and radio ready. They have created a sound that reminds me of all that I love about Fleet Foxes, Elliot Smith and Bon Iver. The lyrics speak to a time and place that breaks the heart, works over and around the idea of healing and memory, but with a simultaneously emotional and intelligent bent. There is never too much, or a want for more. Nothing feels out of place in the entire album. Through and through, the album as a whole works perfectly.

Mark Fain on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Max Monson on drums, Matt Roney on bass and Ryan O'Reilly guitar and keys come together seamlessly, none overpowering the other, to create a work of art with emotional depth, clarity and focus. “Balfour” as debut album is a clear indicator of what this talented band is capable of. The future is bright for Gun Lake, I guarantee it.

Here’s some pics by Adam Forslund:

Note in the photos below, filling in on bass is Ben Collins (of Lightning Love).