Shallow Bed

From the opening acoustic drone of "Animal Skins" to the explosive, percussive, conclusion of "Lion's Den," this is one of the most immediate and powerful records of the last few years. An album written as a single work of art, with careful thought given to how the songs fit together and the story that they tell.

The production gives it a consistent sound without ever becoming samey- the songs clearly belong together but there is nothing monotonous about the record. It helps that Peter Liddle is a extraordinarily deft lyricist, his songwriting stepping between emotional honesty and obscure reference with a rare and precious agility. The musicianship throughout is excellent - the strings and guitars soar through the songs, the rhythm section know when to thunder and when to whisper and there are moments of beautiful layered choral harmonies.

Over the years I have enjoyed a lot of artists that get classified as "Americana" but as an Englishman with a real interest in my own cultural identity what I really wanted to hear music that brought that attitude to this side of the Atlantic. In this album, pastoral and spacious, by turns sweeping, tender and wild, I am hearing exactly that. Anglicana, you might say. Or listening to these vocals like a world-weary Jeff Buckley and borrowing a pun famously coined by a 6th Century pope: Angelicana.

Into the space opened up by the delay of Mumford and Son's follow up to "Sigh No More" comes "Shallow Bed" the musically imaginative debut album of Dry The River.With the group's strong percussion and brass section supported by a pervasive violin and occasional tenor horn there is a driving yet tender energy beautifully supporting the soulful and expressive voice of main vocalist, Peter Liddle. His voice has real range and he has penned a group of finely crafted songs which have been arranged expansively to underline their strong melodic content. The overall sound is a combination of Fleet Foxes and Mumford and Sons with definite dramatic hints of The National.The latter isn't surprising given that the album is recorded and mixed by their producer,Peter Katis, who is also responsible for the wonderful "Strict Joy" by Ireland's Swell Season. This is a mix guaranteed to attract folk-indie enthusiasts like myself,yet it would be unfair to suggest, as NME has done, that this is a mere synthesis of the styles of already known artists. The music stands up on its own and is amazingly good by any standards.I am loath to recommend any one track: they are all worth listening to. Full of carefully constructed melodic shifts and chord progressions, they have immediate appeal. The lovely melodies are underpinned by a robustness and bombast that excite and get your feet tapping and there are plenty of changes of pace and mood to hold your interest.This is a full lush sound that seems to me more English than American. For this reason I find it more appealing than anything by Fleet Foxes.It is a superb debut album and I warmly recommend you to go out and buy it.

Been watching these guys live for the past 18 months and they are the dogs ..... not disappointed with what is an amazing debut album .. they are nothing like the Mumfords (Liddle's vocal has real soul .....!) ... buy it!!!!!!!!!!