MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: BEND THE RIVER - THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT

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.

See where they go Thursday, Dec. 6, as the new E.P. gets an official Halifax launch show. They'll be at the Seahorse Tavern, with these four new cuts and material from their previous two albums.