It looks like the river’s on fire

And it’s burning up our time

We are slowing things down tonight on the Left Bank, giving you all time to sit back and reflect on the year we’ve all just experienced. The project of Minnesota-based Tyler Tholl, Maple & Beech started out as a solo recording project and has now grown into a seven-member ensemble of Tholl’s friends and family.

Featuring ethereal vocals, the angelic track “The River’s on Fire” takes songwriting to an extreme (“This terra isn’t mine / The ground isn’t anyone’s / Yeah, this scene seems so at odds / With that ghost of a ghost“) giving us a glimpse into a modern-day lullaby. Met with an angelic chorus, layered instrumentals, and a horn section that is to die for, the art-pop band uses their three and a half minutes to explore the deeper elements of human existence.

Speaking about the lyrics, singer Nicole Wilder says:

“The song calls to my mind our ability as humans to see what we want to see, to maintain the lie that “everything is fine” in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, especially when going along with the flow of the status quo seems to have near-term personal benefits. I am complicit in this, as much as I don’t want to be.“

Written, produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Tyler Tholl, “The River’s on Fire” is a great, if not introspection-inducing, end to an evening. Listen to the tune below.