Blue Lake’s music is a meditative listening experience. The Texan-native, now based in Copenhagen, Denmark, has released a stunning body of work titled Sun Arcs, a 31 minute journey through 8 tracks of warm, immersive compositions, with the following instruments all played by Jason Dungan – 48-string zither, Acoustic guitar, Keyboard, Pump organ, Cello, Clarinet, Alto recorder, Drums and small percussion and Roland 606 drum machine. With such an expansive array of instruments to work with, he’s able to create a rich sonic tapestry that feels so inviting and beautiful.

The opener “Dallas” is a stunningly beautiful folk song, with its acoustic guitars and keys that capture the soul of the south, a stunning and captivating way to open an album. The rhythms and melodies throughout are experimental yet accessible and easy to listen to, as the zither takes center stage on “Green-Yellow Field”, an immersive track with such a richness and profound soul to it that is just so stunning throughout. The dynamic drumming of “Bloom” creates this driving and moody soundscape, with strings that are just so emotive and poignant throughout. The strings on “Rain Cycle” are incredible too, with a delicacy to them that makes it a stunning listen. The harps and strings on “Writing” are captivating and moving, while the basslines and grooves of “Fur” are entrancing, as well as the incredible zither on “Sun Arcs.” “Wavelength” closes the album out with a 9-minute hypnotic composition, with the zither sounding as emotive and special as always, followed by an incredible clarinet composition that is spellbinding and utterly entrancing. It’s a beautiful way to close out a meditative and incredibly beautiful body of work.

Blue Lake’s Sun Arcs is a special body of work with incredibly moving and hypnotic moments throughout its 9 tracks. Jason Dungan’s ability to create mesmeric moments via the plethora of instruments he has mastered is just so inspiring, and the music he’s able to create is just stunning. Sun Arcs is a gorgeous album and one that perfectly captures the serenity and beauty of the natural world around us. That’s what it reminds me of, anyway.