On Facebook, Dry River calls their music “Acoustic Symphony Indie Rock on a Dancin’ Pirate’s Rusty Yacht.” Family Portraits Calm Mutiny, the band’s new EP, sees the band take on both sides of this dual nature and add a little more.
The first three tracks explore the band’s symphonic side with stunning effect. Each track begins with a few acoustic guitar licks that create the feeling of listening to folk tales under a lemon tree.
Family Portraits is a graduation of sorts. Here the aforementioned instrumentation (bassoon, bass clarinet, French horn, accordion and string-trio, along with more traditional rock fare) goes from being quirky and fun to being a powerful conveyor of emotion. To ignore the stellar playing here would be not just foolish, but criminal. And the arrangements are impeccable.
Each of these first three tracks is killer. But I need to say a few words about “The Rape of Persephone.” It is my favorite song on the EP, maybe even my favorite from the band’s entire opus. “Ambitious” is an understatement. Garnet, the vocalist, takes on the persona of Persephone, the vegetation goddess kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld. Garnet pleads Persephone’s case with the urgency of Bjork at the height of her powers, begging Hades to let her go so the flowers will grow again. This track is easily Garnet’s best recorded performance with the band.
Following these symphonic outings we move into “Dancin’ Pirate’s Rusty Yacht” territory. “Sweaty Sax” is a celebration of the fun parts of Hades’ underworld. The saxophone does in fact sound sweaty, as though it’s spent long hours boozing and screwing. “Dead Mother Dearest,” recorded live, is the tale of rats eating someone’s mother. These songs are more conducive to Friday night partying, and will be
more recognizable to fans of DRYC’s earlier work.
Remixes close out Family Portraits. Pickster One takes on “Sweaty Sax,” and Senbad gives us his take on “The Tale of Earl Augustine.” Pickster’s frenetic beats and Senbad’s thumping bass are sure to fill the dance floor, and these remixes show that a change of context takes nothing away from DRYC’s music.
Family Portraits Calm Mutiny is not just another solid release from Dry River Yacht Club. It is a huge leap forward, highlighting the band’s growth, raising the stakes and sticking the landing.
