Chris Lake's Debut Album, 'Chemistry,' Is Here
More than two decades into his career, Lake delivers the hotly anticipated 15-track LP via Black Book Records.
Rachel Narozniak
Chris Lake’s debut album has been more than two decades in the making. Over the years, the Black Book Records head has cemented his status as a house tastemaker through a steady stream of singles and EPs that not only shifted the genre’s sound but conferred an almost mythical quality to the concept of a Lake LP. Many wondered if the producer would put out an album of his own – a sentiment that deepened after Lake and Chris Lorenzo released Anti Up’s debut album, What Is Life, last year. This speculation came to a definitive end in April, when the Englishman announced that, come July, he’d do just that.
The resulting long-player is pure house Chemistry. Clocking in at 15 tracks, it’s hefty but plays with a sense of lightness and ease characteristic of Lake’s ever-sleek, always smooth house signature. While it’s polished, it’s also threaded with Lake’s other sonic hallmarks: heady grooves, melodic moments, and commanding, club-forward cuts that demand attention, like “Psycho.” It feels like a mature body of work because it is.
“I’ve spent so many hours, days, months, years crafting something that I’m really proud of, alongside some of the most talented people in the music industry,” Lake attested in an Instagram post. “None of this would be possible without the incredibly talented people that worked with me throughout this whole process. It was so much fun. Some of the best and most enjoyable recording sessions I’ve ever had in my life, just trying to create ideas I love. Not going to lie, I’m feeling pretty reflective right now. Was making an album harder than I expected? Probably, yes. Would I do it again? I’m already thinking about the next one.”
The album features guest appearances from Bonobo, Nathan Nicholson, Kelly Lee Owens, and "Turn Off The Lights" vocalist Alexis Roberts, among others. Listen below.
Bang on dance floors Chemistry shall. In October, Lake will hit the road on the album’s 13-date North American supporting tour, making stops in major cities like Washington (DC), Boston, and San Francisco. Pre-sale tickets are available for purchase at 10 a.m. local time on July 16. RSVP here.
Chemistry is out now via Black Book Records. Buy it on Beatport.
