Single Review:
The River by Katie and the Bad Sign
Over the years, from Bruce Springsteen to Garth Brooks (and everyone in between), there have been any number of songs entitled The River. It’s a timeless metaphor for life, love, loss and the passage of time, and now Manchester’s Katie & The Bad Sign, join that illustrious group of talented songwriters and performers for whom it has provided inspiration, with a track that can sit comfortably and proudly alongside any of those artists.
Due for release on Friday 21 February 2025, The River sees a much more reflective aspect of Katie O’Malley and her gifted band; whereas excellent recent singles such as Wolf at the Door and Cruel to Me showcased their rootsier, more up-tempo side, here they are in much more introspective mood with a beautifully played and nuanced track that is heavy on both atmosphere and heartfelt emotion.
Much like the waters of its title, the song ebbs and flows, captivating and dramatic in its structure, exquisite in its execution. Opening quietly, with a clean crisp acoustic guitar before smoothly and seamlessly building up atmospherically, with strings and cymbals in the background, Katie’s vocal is initially understated and soft, before becoming ever more plaintive and haunting. It’s a tour-de-force, Katie’s voice front and centre, full of colour and expression, her range and timbre something really quite extraordinary. There is a husky warmth to her tone that pulls the listener into the drama and mood of the song, one that enchants in its earthy beauty. She can effortlessly deliver a delicate, almost ethereal verse, then in the next breath, dial things up with an impassioned, emotion-soaked chorus.
And whilst Katie is the centre of the song, the musicianship on display matches the high bar she sets with her singing. Enhanced still further by a lush production which lets all the elements shine, everything, from guitars to drums is perfectly judged, coming together perfectly to paint a soundscape in which the listener can lose themselves, washed along by the swell of the music and its sentiments. There’s a desolation here, a longing and poignancy that you could easily picture soundtracking a desperate scene in an episode of something like Sons of Anarchy. It’s full of melancholy but in a good way and when it comes to an end you just want to hear more, surely the biggest compliment you can give.
The River is one of those songs that doesn’t reveal all it has to offer on first listen; only when you have heard it a second and third time (and more) do you really begin to hear the depth and complexity and the layers contained within it. It’s a song that richly rewards the repeat listener in its emotional punch and musical power.
With the release of the band’s album 'Revolution' only a matter of weeks away, dropping on Friday 4th April, The River is a thrilling teaser of what we can expect from that opus. As big in ambition as it is in heart and soul, The River shows a versatile and talented band on the cusp of greatness; when the Revolution hits in April, this is one uprising you won’t want to miss out on, so if you haven’t already, check out the band’s singles to date at the Spotify link below, and be sure to pre-save The River here https://tinyurl.com/Badsigntheriver
Music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wBFEX1sEX7ugXU0A2KTml...
Socials
https://www.instagram.com/katieandthebadsign