Great Lake Swimmers return with a magnificent sophomore effort, Bodies and Minds. Filled with songs of heartbreak, pastoral yearning, and the search for spiritual transcendence, the album picks up where Great Lake Swimmers' critically acclaimed self-titled debut left off. While it still relies on gentle, thoughtful compositions and understated instrumentation, it shifts fluidly into the breezy harmonies and uptempo approach of '70s AM pop. Imagine if Steely Dan were fronted by Neil Young, or envision My Morning Jacket playing Jackson Browne classics -- Bodies and Minds could be the fruit of such collaborations.

Part of the solitary feeling of the Great Lake Swimmers' self-titled debut stemmed from it being performed almost entirely by Tony Dekker solo. That album was recorded in an abandoned grain silo, and it embodied the unique environment where the songs were captured. While the reverb-y ethic remains, on this album the band has evolved from an alias for Tony Dekker into a five-piece ensemble including new Swimmers Sandro Perri (lap steel), Erik Arneson (banjo), Almog Ben-David (Wurlitzer) and Colin Huebert (drums). The full-band arrangements bring these songs to life, adding a newfound pop sensibility to the heartfelt folk we've come to love and expect from Dekker.

That said, the band is still long on atmosphere, and continuing in the Swimmers' tradition of organic settings, Bodies and Minds was recorded in a lakeside church in rural southern Ontario. Engineered by Andy Magoffin (Constantines) and mixed at his celebrated House of Miracles, Bodies and Minds has the sparkle and shimmer brought forth by this cavernous recording environment. The echo of the church walls could not have been more appropriate for this album, especially when the London Community Singers choir swoops in on "Falling Into The Sky."

Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, Red House Painters, Nick Drake, Iron and Wine. These are the names that litter Great Lake Swimmers press clippings, and while these are weighty comparisons, Tony Dekker is emerging as a modern master in his own right. Dim the lights, sip some whiskey and immerse yourself in Bodies and Minds, the latest musical masterpiece exported from our neighbors to the north.