Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle / Lifestyle

Music Review: James Bay, Hold Back The River EP

Kim Gillespie
Kim Gillespie
Editor: NZME Community Publications Network·NZME. regionals·
5 Feb, 2015 04:00 PMQuick Read
‌

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
James Bay

James Bay

It's not surprising to find that James Bay has toured with Hozier.

The British singer-songwriter has a similarly pained, soulful sound that oozes feeling, though he could also be described as Jake Bugg meets Ed Sheeran.

Touted as one to watch, Bay won the Brit Awards Critics' Choice Award, and his title track here is in the New Zealand iTunes top 10.

It's a catchy tune, not quite up there with Hozier's Take Me to Church, but still worthy of repeat listening.

Starting quietly, it builds with a driving rhythm to a more excited pace, its river imagery and backing vocals upping the gospel feel.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Sparks sizzles with energy, if not also a little early 80s' FM vibe, while Wait in Line is a little more forgettable.

The EP, Bay's third, also includes a live version of Hold Back the River.

But wait, there's more. Bay's debut album is expected out next month.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Listen to Hold Back the River here:

Discover more

Music Review: Fall Out Boy, American Beauty/American Psycho

12 Feb 04:00 PM

Music Review: Bob Dylan, Shadows in the Night

19 Feb 04:00 PM

Music Review: Imagine Dragons, Smoke + Mirrors

26 Feb 04:00 PM
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Premium
Lifestyle

Gardening: The simple winter flower swap that keeps your garden bright for months

24 Apr 04:00 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

How to get the best from citrus trees in your garden this winter

17 Apr 04:00 PM
Premium
OpinionGareth Carter

Gareth Carter: Grow some green fences

10 Apr 05:00 PM

Sponsored

Endangered bird gets another chance

21 Apr 02:30 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Premium
Premium
Gardening: The simple winter flower swap that keeps your garden bright for months
Lifestyle

Gardening: The simple winter flower swap that keeps your garden bright for months

Pansies can flower for six months or more through the cooler seasons.

24 Apr 04:00 PM
Premium
Premium
How to get the best from citrus trees in your garden this winter
Lifestyle

How to get the best from citrus trees in your garden this winter

17 Apr 04:00 PM
Premium
Premium
Gareth Carter: Grow some green fences
OpinionGareth Carter

Gareth Carter: Grow some green fences

10 Apr 05:00 PM


Endangered bird gets another chance
Sponsored

Endangered bird gets another chance

21 Apr 02:30 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • NZME Digital Performance Marketing
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP