Christ! There are moments of Dry The River’s debut album which feel like sitting in on a Marcus Mumford-led church service; specifically the lulling twinkle of ‘Demons’ and ‘Bible Belt’. And while grumbling about dancing to the shipping forecast over gently throbbing violins and brushed shuffle drums might sound clichéd, the pounding tip of ‘New Ceremony’ and the rousing gang-chorus of ‘History Book’; like a singalong at a lumberjack’s campfire. While Dry The River stick resolutely – and somewhat predictably – to their ‘start quiet, build to a stomping ending’ mantra throughout, ‘Shallow Bed’ is an uplifting debut.
Matt Glass