Eighty- Eight
Factor, 2018
8/10
Coming off a very strong debut album in 2016, this quick EP from the Canadian folk-pop outfit Wild Rivers offers us 5 tunes of their thoughtful lyricism and cautiously warm song craft that’s never short on beauty or variety.
“A Week Ago” starts the album with soaring vocal harmonies from Khalid Yassein and Devan Glover as well as playful, upbeat instrumentation, and “Howling” follows with a slightly darker feel where crisp percussion and a reserved mood flow with an authentic quality.
The back half of the EP offers the initially male dominated “You Can Side”, which builds into a warm rhythm and timeless melody that approaches a more traditional folk-rock template, and “I Won’t Be Back” ends the listen with a flowing Americana and country presence and exits on a glorious, even danceable tone.
A listen with plenty of rural grooves and a bit of twang, too, Wild Rivers know their way around an infectious melody and soulful delivery that’s full of vocal harmonies that are so well done they alone are worth exploring this rising Toronto quartet.
Travels well with: Kacy & Clayton- Carrying On; Sarah Lee Langford- Two Hearted Rounder