Shut up by river that's less remote (6)
I believe the answer is:
closer
'less remote' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'shut up by river' is the wordplay.
'shut up' becomes 'close' (I've seen this in another clue).
'by river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation. I am not sure about the 'by' bit.).
'close'+'r'='CLOSER'
'that's' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for closer that I've seen before include "One winds up" , "Nearer or more intimate" , "More airless; nearer" , "one concludes" , "more precise" .)