Album Review: Downriver

Right on time for summer, Downriver has just released a very bright and sunny self-titled debut album, basking in warm, cruisy vibes and cozy, harmonious band kinship. Completely uncomplicated and uncompromising with its simplicity being its strongest weapon (that weapon being a floral beach umbrella), Downriver delivers a refreshing new take on the folk/country rock albums in light of Neil Young-esque exemplar’s and best enjoyed on beach outings, weekend picnics or pottering around the house. Based in “Sunny Nelson,” it’s no doubt that the high annual sunshine hours have influenced the album’s creation. Even seemingly sombre-sounding track titles like We All Got Problems and Forget It end up being the most vibrant songs of the album.

At the forefront of this sterling six-piece, we have Yann Le Dorré (vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar), who writes all the tracks while the rest of the band added their own distinctive flair to the arrangements. After rehearsing for a full year prior to getting into a studio, the album was recorded over the course of just two days. The end result revels in its beautiful imperfections without sounding too rushed out of the gate. This is a gorgeous sounding album, and hearing the vocalists almost reach their intended notes adds to that camaraderie feeling of having sing-alongs with friends at parties. Siorche Harris (vocals & percussion) co-leads the harmonies, doing a stellar job of making these songs feel lovingly fun. She’s the wingman who keeps the momentum going to the finish line.

Album opener Overcast Summer sets the tone of the record right away with a beautiful acoustic guitar riff so delicate you can hear fingernails clicking on the pick guard. Yet another wonderful touch of imperfection that grounds the album in its folk roots. There are a few short repeated vocal lines and then the band clicks into place and the harmonies are soaring “If you have to go, go away for good, it’s a perfect overcast summer in this neighbourhood.” These are playful lyrics laced with autobiographical lines written for friends to be sung with friends. There’s even a nod to hanging out at Wellington’s Mt Victoria, as these songs were written between there and Nelson.

Happiness opens with an effective pairing of piano and bass guitar, teasing some sort of build-up before the drums and guitar enter the mix and continue the tension. It all unfolds into a wonderful southern rock track resembling the style of a Kings of Leon song. Chris Hamblin shines brightest here on the lead guitar and hits the gas with a solo that’s worth every cheer and whistle. Happiness is an absolute album standout and reminds you of what makes music so much fun to get into in the first place.

The tracks get longer and longer as the album goes on, mirroring the daylight hours of a kiwi summer. Country Blues clocks at just over an impressive nine minutes and feels like lying down with a blanket on the grass and watching the stars come out behind a clear sky. On the back end of the album, it’s a great wind-down track that settles you into that blanket while the song tells tales of having bad luck and losing all their money. Before the finish line, the violins come out for a friendly duel with a rambling electric guitar, and you wouldn’t even notice the runtime.

Over the course of its 11 tracks, Downriver is a delight to listen to from beginning to end. That full year of rehearsing really shows a camaraderie within the band, and it pours out all over the album. At face value, the songs might seem simple, but the lyrics are deep, methodical and playful while the musicality of the band is rich in texture, totally aware of its genre and shows why it’s such a fun genre in the first place.

Albums to complement Downriver:

Ben Harper – Diamonds On The Inside – 2003
Send Medicine – Mata Hari Honey – 2022
The Velvet Underground – Loaded – 1970