The latest from Halifax collective Bend The River has arrived, a
four-track E.P. this time. The group revolves around songwriter Ronok
Sarkar, and his rich, detailed stories. Remnants is rocky romance tune, a
relationship imagined as a boat that once sailed, now caught up on
shore, and breaking up. As the boat goes, so goes our singer's heart. In
the title cut, we're on a train late at night with Jenny, who hasn't
slept in days. Her hands are shaking, and she's just trying to get
through that all-night journey, and maybe find some peace in the
morning. Sarkar often writes these cinematic scenes, putting the
listener in a setting, showing us the characters and unveiling their
dilemmas.
Meanwhile the band, produced this
time by Joel Plaskett, continues to evolve, able to put just about
anything into their roots melting pot. Opening cut White Line has some
country touches and Mexican horns, while Remnants swings with some soul
and 70's pop rock. Another Shade Of Blue and Through The Long Night have
interesting, jazzy moments alongside more sharply focused sections,
each time pushed back into control with a brief, gnarly guitar solo. You
get the feeling the band can go anywhere it wants.
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