Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low

Released in May 2007, 'Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low' is the debut EP from Sea Wolf, the project of Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Alex Brown Church. Following his departure from the band Irving, Church pivoted toward a more organic, folk-influenced sound that emphasized storytelling and atmospheric arrangements. The EP was a critical success, establishing the band's signature 'chamber folk' aesthetic - most notably the integration of the cello as a primary melodic instrument rather than mere backing. Recorded with a rotating cast of musicians, the EP features standout tracks like 'The Garden You Planted,' which became an indie-folk staple of the late 2000s. Its reception solidified Sea Wolf's place alongside contemporaries like Iron & Wine and Fleet Foxes, though Church's specific focus on nautical and naturalistic metaphors gave the project a distinct identity. This EP served as the blueprint for the subsequent full-length 'Leaves in the River'.