Dry The River’s second album is a remarkable portrayal of how much a band can grow and develop in the space of two years. A much more complete collection than their debut in 2012, Alarms In The Heart is an arresting fusion of gypsy-folk and indie-rock. The opening title track is a catchy singalong with addictive guitar strumming that you can’t help but bop along to, while ‘Vessel’ and ‘Gethsemane’ have a slight gospel element, not only in the ethereal vocals but also in their lyrical visions.
‘Med School’ is an unusual one, the combination of its eccentric lyrics and the completely different melody between verse and chorus making it the least appealing track on the album. However, ‘Rollerskate’ and ‘It Was Love That Laid Us Low’ do more than enough to redeem the record. The latter is a slow-building, beautifully haunting track with a delicate fading outro that will have you continually abusing the repeat button on your iPod. Other tracks that deserve a notable mention include ‘Everlasting Light’ and ‘Roman Candle’. All in all, a brilliant second outing from a band who I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more of.
OUT AUGUST 22.