Lakes - ‘The Stitches’ review
Lakes by Estie Joy
Earlier today, Watford's finest purveyors of glock-fueled emo, Lakes, released their latest EP The Stitches via Big Scary Monsters. As summer's warmth fades and autumn's chill begins to settle in, this beautiful slice of Midwest-tinged emo feels perfectly timed. The Stitches EP sees Lakes in top form, kicking off the season of cosy jumpers and pumpkin-spiced everything in style. The three-track offering marks the debut of new members, Cat Rowland and Marcus Gooda, and features a guest appearance by math-rock legend Henry Tremain of TTNG. The EP stitches the divide between classic Lakes and what’s to come, and if The Stitches is any indication of the band's future, it looks incredibly exciting indeed.
Opening The Stitches is the almost-title track and a song I've been heavily spinning on the radio show lately, "Stitches." It’s a pulsating, driving tune that showcases the band's signature layered sound, elevating it into something truly special. To say the track is musically infectious would be an understatement. Lyrically, "Stitches" delves into past failed relationships, navigating the overwhelming loneliness and emptiness that follow. Ultimately, this self-examination shifts towards reflecting on the good times and the personal growth that comes from hardship, leading to the possibility of finding love again.
"Nothing Surprising" is probably my favourite track on the EP, though picking a favourite from The Stitches’ three tracks is a Herculean task—each one is so strong that it shifts with the weather and my mood like autumn leaves in a breeze. "Nothing Surprising" masterfully blends Midwest emo, post-rock, and math-rock influences into a sound that's intricate yet addictive. If you’re not already in love with Lakes, this track will make you fall head over heels—almost obsessively. Its rich, enveloping layers reveal something new with each listen, while Roberto Cappellina and Cat Rowland’s vocals elevate the song, delivering the EP’s most memorable refrain: "sixteen-bit troubles for an eight-bit heart."
Closing The Stitches in epic style is "Raleigh," a track I’m fairly certain takes its name from the classic British bicycle brand. This song features TTNG’s Henry Tremain, and what do you do when you have a bassist/guitarist of Tremain's calibre? If you’re Lakes, you take a left-field approach—hand them a broom and let them go to town. Tremain played with such intensity that they broke the broom during recording. Once again, themes of healing and making peace with what has been and what is yet to come are woven throughout the lyrics.
To bring back a pun from earlier, The Stitches EP stitches together Lakes' past and future, and if this release is anything to go by, they are on the cusp of greatness. Across its three tracks, the band not only showcase their songwriting prowess and ability to layer sound upon sound but also reveal a maturity and growth in their sound. Throughout its run, The Stitches explores themes of past relationships, comfort eating, and even the end of the world. But ultimately, it’s an EP about healing and finding peace. The Stitches marks the beginning of something truly special.
The Stitches by Lakes is out now on Big Scary Monsters. Catch the band on tour across the UK and Europe later this month supporting Pedro The Lion, and co-headlining Fest Shalom in November.
