Paralysed by the flavours and colours of Dry the River, I am just that. I apologise. It is time to analyse. Dry the River set sail from London in 2009. Taking their voyage through United Kingdom and Europe, stopping at every music festival they could perform at, the band began cruising at high speeds. Without any reason to slow down, 2012 has brought forth newfound glory (not the band, the concept). With a spot on BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll, their first studio album, Shallow Bed, was bound to get positive reception. It was bound for bloody brilliance. Here we have all the above — a folk rock group stirring up nothing less than bliss.
Shallow Bed had soaring potential ever since the June 2011 release of “No Rest,” the album’s first single. Awe-inspiring if I might say, as the song tenderly steals your concealed affection. Recently released was “New Ceremony,” which begs for an imaginative illustration. I vision Peter Liddle (vocals) sprawled out on the floor of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, staring up through a skylight, thinking relentlessly about the what-ifs, without any rational hope that she will return. His tone reflects upon a dying wish with all the liveliness attached to it. A violin cries, the guitar moans, the bass sobs, the drums beat themselves, yet the synchronous harmony crafts a symphony.
So you don’t get the wrong idea about all this, here’s a snippet from Dry the River’s personal biography: “Dry the River has laid the groundwork for a stellar year in 2012. Don’t call them the next great folk band. Just call them the next great band, full stop.”