Richard Reed Parry: Quiet River of Dust Vol. 2: That Side of the River (ANTI-) Review

Richard Reed Parry

Quiet River of Dust Vol. 2: That Side of the River

ANTI-

Aug 08, 2019 Web Exclusive By Stephen Mayne

When Richard Reed Parry sings “I was alone/I was finally home” on “Lost in the Waves” up near the start of the follow-up to 2018’s Quiet River of Dust Vol. 1: This Side of the River, a very personal rallying cry sounds.

The man who melts into the background playing everything in Arcade Fire is center stage and his stage is one of isolated beauty, evoking a time before urban life conquered the world. Like its predecessor, Vol. 2: That Side of the River is a busy kind of folk, starting simple and adding and adding to create an encompassing soundscape.

Parry sings in a soft voice, floating across compositions that surge in power before dipping back into a state somewhere between bucolic and melancholic, anchored in a strong desire to try and capture the present before it slips away. “It’s All Around You” takes its title seriously, weaving it into the lyrics as Parry sings “time’s not behind you/it’s all around you.”

The whole record feels like an artist capturing his moment, building on the foundations laid in Vol. 1 to create something even better. Sonically similar, yet richer, there’s a confidence here that shines brighter right from the stunning “In a Moment” to the heart-meltingly beautiful musical interlude “Heaven for Meg.” This is music travelling a thousand miles across the natural world Parry adores while still managing to dance on the spot.

So much could be said, but the biggest compliment that can be paid to Vol. 2 is that it’s as good as, if not better than the record it follows. It seems both sides of the river look, and more importantly sound, very fine indeed. (www.richardreedparry.com)

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