Written by Dom Eagle
Gone Is The River is the latest EP from singer/songwriter Devin Farney. These five beautiful tracks are full of emotion, depth and influence from numerous artists and genres from both modern and bygone eras. Farney proves himself to be an ultra-talented musician, not only capable of writing a heartfelt, poignant song, but also capable of mixing and producing his body of work in a professional manner. The result is a polished and aesthetically satisfying EP.
The intro track, “In Heaven,” is a beautiful pop/country/folk piece that draws influence from Bowie but also traverses new, original ground. The piano progression on this track is utterly sublime, as are Farney’s dream-like vocals. I really loved the various instrumental swells on this piece; in particular, the string arrangement stood out to me. Beautiful work. And this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Farney’s musical ability.
On “Invertebrates (Back Where We Started),” Farney slows the pace but retains the complexity, emotional depth and sonic style of the opening song on the EP. I’m always a fan of musical consistency in a body of work, and it’s even better when an artist manages to remain consistent without endlessly churning out carbon-copies of the same song. Farney offers more lush piano and mesmerizing singing on this lovely ballad.
“This is fine” marks a slight sonic and mood departure from the previous two tracks, but, again, Farney does not lose his overall style or aesthetic. This track adopts a driving, upbeat vibe. There are more gorgeous instrumentals and vocals, but the piano chord ‘riff’, for lack of a better word, has a somber funkiness to it. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but it really works. The whole track is slightly moody, but it’s much more energetic than the first two tracks. It was an exciting change of pace.
The fourth track, “Yours to Keep”, is a short, tender ballad that offers a level of fragility that I didn’t expect from Farney, even after hearing the second track, which was also a lovely little ballad. The starkness of the piano chords and the singing really creates a spectacularly intimate experience between Farney and the listener. It’s a gorgeous song. And it leads smoothly into the closer, “It’s a Hoax!” The gentle opening to this final track is most certainly a hoax. The song grows into a multi-layered extravaganza of color and sound. There are magnificent strings and piano passages atop a driving drum beat and powerful vocals. It even features a surprising guitar solo towards the end. This is certainly a grandiose close to an EP that manages to showcase the sheer range of Farney’s ability in a mere five tracks.
