This River Only Brings Poison

by Dakota Suite

Overview

British romantic-depressives Dakota Suite (basically singer/songwriter Chris Hooson and whoever else is in the room) recorded their third proper album -- not counting two all-instrumental side projects -- in San Francisco with Bruce Kaphan, former pedal steel player for American romantic-depressives American Music Club. Kaphan's familiar tones appear throughout the album, and AMC drummer Tim Mooney also guests on the less than half of the album that actually has percussion. The American Music Club parallels are obvious (though Hooson is a less memorable lyricist than Mark Eitzel), particularly in the way the songs suggest country and folk music without sounding particularly country-ish or folky. Echoes of the ultra-atmospheric production and slowly unfolding arrangements of Bedhead or Low and the close-miked intimacy of Joe Pernice's solo albums also crop up in these 18 spare but hauntingly beautiful tracks. Those who insist on a certain set number of hooks per song will likely find this delicate set of tunes tough sledding, but This River Only Brings Poison is an initially challenging but ultimately luxuriant listen. This expanded U.S. edition adds four bonus tracks, two of them utterly lovely tunes from the aforementioned instrumental albums. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/2023
Label:	Karaoke Kalk
UPC:	0880918263465
Rank:	74787

Tracks

1. The Lepers Companion
2. Boats in a Sunken Ocean
3. The Finished River
4. Let's Share Wounds
5. Verdriet
6. Sand Fools the Shoreline
7. Let's Be on Our Own
8. The Ferris Wheels of Winter
9. We Made It Rain
10. How Safe We Must Seem
11. Pillows in the Water
12. Matching Eyes and Hands
13. The Space Around Your Sleeping
14. Untitled Song
15. Love Gun
16. Stedelijk
17. Matching Eyes and Hands [Alternate Version]
18. How Safe We Must Seem [Demo]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dakota Suite   Primary Artist
Tim Mooney   Drums
David Buxton   Bass,Piano,Harmonium,Fender Rhodes,Hi String Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Laura Donohue   Vocal Harmony
Edmund Collins   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Chris Donohue   Piano,Double Bass,Bowed Double Bass
Richard Formby   Glockenspiel
Derri Daugherty   Ambience
Bruce Kaphan   Mellotron,Pedal Steel
Colin Dunkley   Piano,Cello
Johanna Hooson   Clarinet
Nick Hawley   Triangle
Dave Herringshaw   Piano
Chris Hooson   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals,Piano
John Sheppard   Drums

Technical Credits

David Buxton   Engineer,Producer,Brass Arrangement
Gwilym Hooson   Composer
Dylan Magierek   Engineer
Richard Formby   Engineer
Derri Daugherty   Engineer,Mixing
Johanna Hooson   Photography
Chris Hooson   Producer,Engineer
Bruce Kaphan   Engineer,Mixing