Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara

Ongiara, released in March 2007, is the Great Lake Swimmers' third full-length album and the first released on Nettwerk. The melancholy lyrics are often set against the backdrop of the Canadian landscape, while the music is lush yet subtle, almost like the wash of a watercolour.

"Your Rocky Spine" and "Backstage with the Modern Dancers" were both released as singles, with the former getting extensive airplay on the CBC, eventually topping Radio 3's chart. The album did not do as well with the international critics – 3.5 of 5 at AllMusic and 5.5 of 10 at Pitchfork, although Pop Matters gave it a 9 out of 10.

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Track Listing

1. "Your Rocky Spine" (Tony Dekker) – 3:36
2. "Backstage with the Modern Dancers" (Tony Dekker) – 4:28
3. "Catcher Song" (Tony Dekker) – 4:11
4. "Changing Colours" (Tony Dekker) – 4:44
5. "There Is a Light" (Tony Dekker) – 5:06
6. "Put There by the Land" (Tony Dekker) – 2:43
7. "I Am a Part of a Large Family" (Tony Dekker) – 4:23
8. "Where in the World Are You" (Tony Dekker) – 3:49
9. "Passenger Song" (Tony Dekker) – 4:28
10. "I Became Awake" (Tony Dekker) – 5:53

Personnel

• Tony Dekker – vocals, guitar, piano (on 5), bass (on 5)
• Erik Arnesen – banjo (on 1, 2, 3, 10), electric guitar (on 4, 6, 7), harmonium (on 5)
• Colin Huebert – drums and percussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10), glockenspiel (on 5)
• Serena Ryder – backing vocals (on 1, 2, 4, 7), autoharp (on 1, 2, 7)
• Mike Overton – upright bass (on 1, 2, 4, 10)
• Mike Olsen – cello (on 2, 8)
• Darcy Yates – electric bass (on 3, 7)
• Mike Bonnell – organ (on 3)
• Colin Pallett – violin (on 6), string arrangement (on 8)
• Bob Eagan – dobro (on 7), pedal steel (on 10)
• Sarah Harmer – backing vocals (on 10)