Album Review: My Girl The River - Manifest Good Things
On their latest album, My Girl The River up the ante to serve a collection of well-crafted songs awash with smokey vocals and prime musicianship. MANIFEST GOOD THINGS clearly reflects the influences of its creator who in turn is neck deep in the upper echelons of A-list Americana music. If only a smidgeon of effect filters through then value is offered. Indeed there is much to enjoy from dedicated personal lyrics to melodies piquing an intriguing interest.
Kris Wilkinson Hughes is the driving force behind My Girl The River - a Louisiana exile long settled in Bedford. She has written and produced the album alongside providing lead vocals and acoustic guitar on all ten tracks. The core band is also a family affair with husband Joe on bass and daughter Rue helping out with backing vocals and occasional piano. However the album is further enriched by a raft of guest musicians adding keys, horns, strings, electric guitar and lap steel to the overall mix. The production is delicate and unhurried allowing each track to form an identity.
The strongest part of the album lies in its opening phase with the writing, melodies and impression at the peak. The tone set from ‘Up the Mountain’ is the perfect lead off especially in a sumptuous chorus laced with hypnotic purpose. The next two tracks jostle for top spot on each listen. When leaning towards the music, ‘Heavy’ peaks with its gentle rolling feel, gorgeous harmonies and an overarching melody. In another sphere, the detailed writing in ‘Teenage Geek’ thrives on the minutiae, heavily personalising the listening experience. The only yearning was for one of these three heavyweights shoring up the latter stages.
The lynchpin of the second half is ‘The Good The Bad The Good’ with its breezy outlook and piano part. This is closely followed by thought provoking closer ‘Where Does the Rain Come From’ aided by snippets of twang, warm vocals and sombre strings A tinge of sadness evokes, all within the positive vibes of serious intent.
There is a grower tendency to ‘Breadcrumbs on the Water’ and you detect family leanings in the punchier ‘Living Your Life’. A general relaxing delicacy surrounds the trio of ‘A Little Favour’, ‘Without You’ and ‘Everywhere You Go’. If a sense of space was sought in the song structure, the intent has worked. This effect does enable subtle differences to emerge with subsequent listens.
MANIFEST GOOD THINGS is a considered album weaving acquired traits into something personal and shaped for sharing. Its ripened songs are underpinned by an outstanding score. Pieces neatly slot together forming an album built on substance offering both moments of high intrigue and mellow relaxation. My Girl The River have reached a career highpoint with a part instant appeal - part slow burner record. You are tempted to let it breathe before returning, confident the next play will reveal another treasured nugget.
