Norwegian "float folk" trio I See Rivers share the harmony-laden "Give Up"
It's hard to carve a nice as a folk group a decade after a major nu-folk revival swept the mainstream. Norwegian trio I See Rivers are making a good go of it however, stepping out in a sub-genre of their own creation: "float folk".
So, what exactly is "float folk"? If new single "Give Up" is any indication, its key components are tight, pin-sharp harmonies and soaring, memorable melodies set to a minimal acoustic backdrop. This isn't the ham-fisted banjo-slinging we've come to expect from folk's recent souped-up reincarnation: it's delicate, thoughtful, and entirely seductive in its simplicity. This most recent release is an enchanting introduction to I See Rivers, and is the lead single lifted from their forthcoming EP, due out 6 July. It follows a slew of well-received festival dates scattered through the summer of 2017, that have built the trio a fanbase across the UK.
Fans of First Aid Kit, The Staves, and Emmy The Great will find familiar aspects to love in the sound of I See Rivers, but also unique elements that make the group's sound entirely their own. Alone, their vocals would be distinctive enough, but their well-oiled harmonies are a different beast altogether.
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