Album Review - Dry The River

Shallow Bed has more biblical references than Ned Flanders on sunday.

"I pray for your health, and I tell myself, it's the chambers and the valves that pump the sentiment around, but I swallow the words, and I close my mouth" - Dry The River

If you have read my 'Take A Chance On: Dry The River' post then you will know that Dry The River are already in a good position, in my opinion, for this review. I have genuinely fallen in love with this band from the get go because of the tracks they have released through their singles and E.P's. With the release of the album on the horizon, I was in a little bit of a nervous disposition. Would the Album deliver like the singles? Or had Dry The River released their best stuff early to set us all up for disappointment. 

Well, thankfully, my fears were laid to rest immediately when 'Shallow Bed' played through my headphones. The album was a complete joy to listen to and so far, since it's release, I haven't played anything else. It's mix of slow and upbeat tracks, biblical and sentimental lyrics and luscious rhythm and orchestral sounds completely took my breath away. Dry The River have struck gold with their debut album and capture your attention from the very first note. 

Track Listing:

1. Animal Skins
2. New Ceremony
3. Shield Your Eyes
4. History Book
5. The Chambers & The Valves
6. Demons
7. Bible Belt
8. No Rest
9. Shaker Hymns
10. Lion's Den
11. Weights & Measures
12. Family

The album starts with an upbeat three tracks. Animal Skins, New Ceremony and Shield Your Eyes start off with such a beautiful and energetic start, you almost wonder if it's worth listening to the rest. (It is, I assure you). New Ceremony in particular demonstrates Pete Liddle's incredible vocal range as he starts off with a slow wispy voice, to belting out notes that would blow a roof off a church. The Album, after working up your appetite, soon calms you down with the more mellow songs such as History Book, Demons and Bible Belt. Which show the bands ability to craft beautiful melodies and intuitive sentences. The blend of folk-rock instruments mixed with biblical sounds and orchestral influence creates an innocent and powerful melody that the band portrays differently in each song. The lyrics nestle in your head, whilst the large sounds run through your blood as you tap them out subconsciously. The band hold your attention with their simplicity in making the beautiful sound seem as delicate as snow flakes. You simply feel like the music flows right through you. 

Shallow Bed, at it's core, is a folk-rock album that manages to capture the attention of all that listen to it. For a debut album, Dry The River have really managed to make something thoughtful and fantastic. The songs seem patient and un-rushed, as if the band really thought about what they were doing, rather than just being eager to produce an album, which is refreshing to see. I have high hopes for Dry The River, I'm off to see them in Nottingham in April, and I'm sure I'll write something about the performance soon after. But I feel I could be watching them perform in a church, organist at the ready, let alone a small dark room. Yet there's something about the band that leads you to believe they would fit right in to both scenarios. Dry The River are one of those bands that you are always going to want to come back to, simply because, you realise, as you you listen to their songs, they are much more beautiful than the last time you listened to them. 

'Shallow Bed' is available now on iTunes for £6.99