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Jason Lakis wrote and recorded the entire album himself during and after his time in The Red Thread, his now-defunct former band. Though Mist and Mast was all written and performed by one person, this record never gets stale or boring, and never plods its way through uninspired filler. Rather, it cleverly weaves a mix of styles and layers lush keyboards, bass, and guitars underneath Lakis’ soft, almost whispery vocals so finely that the album sounds crafty and fresh throughout.

Like all good albums, there’s plenty of interesting influences worked in, or sometimes even just subtly suggested. Opener “Turn into the Turn” has a psychedelic blues lick thrown over some glockenspiel at one point, while the rest of the song moves along like Elliot Smith jamming with Yo La Tengo. “Green Eyes” employs surfy guitar licks. “Glass Tiles” recalls shoegazery folk a la the Brian Jonestown Massacre. The interlude to “Campfire Went Out” is a slow-burning psychedelic passage worthy of the Grateful Dead. “Weathered” starts off with dark, Sleater-Kinneyesque dual guitars, then drifts to an end with a dreamy, somnambulant electric piano. Acoustic ballad “Price of Fevers” rides a wave of cool organ to the album’s close. You never know what turn the album will take next. Yet, despite its unpredictability, there’s always a warm, California poppy feel to it all, like you’ve known these songs for years.

Lakis has assembled a live band and is currently playing around the Bay Area. Mist and Mast is so full of creative songwriting, I can’t wait to hear how a whole band of musicians interprets the material.

[Mike G.]

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