The indie pop trio
Baby Island was formed in 2010 by dudes from
LAKE and
the Format. They released a cassette in 2012, then this album,
Break the Lease, in 2017. Fittingly the sound of the record is a lot like the sum one might expect when adding the laid-back strummy side of
LAKE with the introspective, domestic side of
the Format. The songs are built on simple foundations of guitars-bass-drums with subtle keyboards and light vocal harmonies, sometimes sung by
LAKE's
Ashley Erickson. That band's
Eli Moore handles the lead vocals and his warm embrace of a voice fits well with the unprepossessing nature of the music. It's definitely not the kind of album that's going to get the blood flowing or feet moving, and there are no big hooks to snag the attention of the casual listener, but as far as peacefully flowing quiet time music goes, one could do much worse than
Break the Lease. That's not to say the songs are in any way weak or the performances too mellow. There are some tunes where the guitars have some crackling energy and a few like the title track where the band almost rocks a little. Mostly though, the album is made for peaceful times that are a little sad, but also a little sunny. Not a bad combination at all that should earn them a few new fans as well as definitely pleasing
LAKE fans who miss the simpler, more guitar-based sound of their early records.