ALBUM REVIEW: Fruit Bats – A River Running To Your Heart

Merge Records

Released: 14.04.23

Returning from his stint with Bonny Light Horseman, Eric D. Johnson is once again on sparkling form on A River Running To Your Heart. This luscious record sees him flit between delicate solo work to beautifully crafted Americana soundscapes. Opening with instrumental Dim North Star before folding straight into Rushin’ River Valley to pick up the pace, this record possesses a cohesion which is so rarely heard.

Each track flows effortlessly, but there are still standout moments, particularly Sick of This Feeling and Waking up in Los Angeles. A River Running To Your Heart isn’t a bombastic record, yet it’s packed with layers of instrumentation and soulful harmonies, detail and nuance which never feels overpowering. A truly exceptional record.