Of Dusk
Rivers releases thoughtful full-length debut
and Dexter Nelson – first full length is an introspective collection of folk songs led
by Nelson’s intricate guitar and lyrics.
Eau Claire natives Rivers are emerging with their debut album, Of Dusk, thanks to the support of a successful Kickstarter campaign completed in late February.
While the fundraiser was the final push needed from fans to see their project through, the big picture certainly wasn’t drawn up overnight. The trio’s brimming, orchestral sound was patiently gathered by frontman Dexter Wolfe during college, with help from travels abroad and some insight from a bandmate’s older brother with songwriting experience of his own.
“I don’t think there was any grand scheme of what the album was going to be because it was kind of hodgepodged together in a few different ways over a long period of time,” Wolfe said. “Some of the songs were written three to four years ago and other were written within the past year.”
Accompanied by percussionist Colin Carey, upright bassist Pat Kuehn, and a bright cast of other artists, the trio’s accomplished sound echos the late, great Elliot Smith in tandem with their distinctive Eau Claire roots.
And, what better way to tune into those roots than to consult those who planted them? Carey’s brother, solo artist and Bon Iver drummer Sean Carey, offered Rivers a deep analysis of their album as it was nearing completion.
“I don’t think there was any grand scheme of what the album was going to be because it was kind of hodgepodged together in a few different ways over a long period of time.” – songwriter Dexter Wolfe, on creating Rivers’ debut album, Of Dusk
“He would have me sit down and play songs over and over, he had really great and at times heartbreaking critiques,” Wolfe said. “Some of these tunes are really old so him telling me to cut a given song from six minutes to something more like four and a half, I didn’t know how I was going to do that having loved all of the parts.”
Given his perfectionist attitude, it’s no surprise Of Dusk was born out of some apprehension. Wolfe said he’d never finished an album he was proud of until now, even though it’s something he’s wanted to accomplish since he was 10 or 11 years old.
“Last summer I was in the midst of reading some really important books that came as kind of a kick in the ass, not even a wakeup call,” Wolfe said. “I had one semester left of school, and I told myself after that I’d put everything I have into recording these songs.”
And voilà , Wolfe’s moment of clarity has paid off. The trio’s collection of pensive, dreamy songs has solidified in the form of the 10-track debut released June 11.
The original vision for Rivers was a solo effort, but Wolfe said the project developed organically into something more collaborative with the installment of Kuehn and Carey, and further with the helping hands of string and brass players showcased on the record.
All of these helping hands resulted in a tactfully busy product – Of Dusk manages to squeeze in a variety of sounds without feeling overcrowded. It’s not an easy feat to pull off by any means, so Wolfe said he was moved seeing the contributing artists at work.
“I found out the violinist we were recording had her master’s degree in contemporary improvisation,” Wolfe said. “I had tears in my eyes listening to her play at one point.”
With songwriting done in Latvia by Wolfe and mixing and mastering in Kuehn’s neck of the woods in Boston, Rivers produces a record that sounds equal parts worldly and close to home here in Eau Claire.
If you can’t catch them at their album release show on June 12 at Eau Claire’s Little Grand Theatre, there are a number of other chances to follow along on Rivers’ string of shows around the Midwest this summer. Of Dusk and concert information are available via Bandcamp.
