Vanishing Skies, the third full-length studio album from Brooklyn’s PEAK, sees the band honing a now-distinctive sound amid 10 tracks filled with influences ranging from 70s yacht rock and 90s jam bands.
PEAK, the Brooklyn-based jam band, features guitarist Jeremy Hilliard (Turbine), Kito Bovenschulte (Particle) on drums, Josh T. Carter (Hayley Jane and The Primates) on bass, and Johnny Young on keys (Mick Taylor Band).
Recorded at Horizon Sound in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, all but one track (“Missionary Ridge”) were written by Hilliard and Young, displaying the band’s wide influences that factor in elements of psychedelic funk. indie rock, Americana, and jazz harmonies, making an album that is thorough, energetic, and offers room for live improvisation.
Engineered by Michelle Young and mixed/mastered by Jason “Jocko” Randall, this album builds upon the success of 2021’s Choppy Water, starting with a 70s yacht rock vibe on “Little Miss Mary Merry-Go-Round” before diving into “Run Me Down” and the jam pop sounds of mid-90s Strangefolk.
“In My Mind I’m Already Gone” takes on an aire of Phil Collins-era Genesis, coupled with the JoJo Hermann-esque organ from Young, ahead of the proggy title track. “Waiting For the Waves To Reach The Shore” shows more of Young’s organ skills, layering in soft synth jazz. “Missionary Ridge” will provide ample space for improvisation in a live session, particularly for being written by the full band. A pair of tunes to rile the crowd close the album – “Don’t Think Unkindly Of Me” and “One Lifetime Isn’t Enough” – give off vibes of early moe. and The Heavy Pets.
Vanishing Skies is just the first slated release from PEAK in 2025; Fading Embers: Vanishing Skies Bonus Tracks will be available on Friday, February 28. The companion EP includes two more Hilliard/Young originals and a reimagined arrangement of Woody Guthrie’s “Pastures of Plenty.”
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