Dutch Am
ericana artist Devries’ new album starts with a song that is untypical of the rest of the album. But it is a cracker. ‘Little White Lies’ is the most electric song on the record and while everything else as a Bluegrass slant to it, rather than the guitar heavy Country Rock of this first song, he clearly felt it was good enough to want to include and he was right.
So, with that, we head off into deep Bluegrass, and a variety of song styles from the upbeat ‘Jericho Walls’ to ballad gems like ‘Don’t Let Me Be’ and ‘Mary.’ Devries says he “writes about people who had to endure some hard knocks in life, people that have lived, about human frailty, about love lost or unrequited. About drink and (feelings of) depression. Stories about time passing and about following your heart, even against better judgement, but also about following your dreams”. In fact, the only other places where an electric guitar is obvious is on the delicate and beautiful ‘All I Know How to Do.’ And an atmospheric piece called ‘Matters of Love.’
Having recorded the album almost completely live including the lead vocals has given a very immediate feel to the sound. I hadn’t come across Devries before but if this an indication of the quality of his music I’ll be off to fins some more. He tours as part of the resurrected Matthews Southern Comfort so the chances of him appearing in this country must be high. If so I reckon he would be a great bet for a good night out.
This album isn’t on Bandcamp, his earlier ones are here.
Buy ‘Song & Dance Man direct from him here or on Amazon
He spoke to my Americana UK colleague Martin Johnson earlier this year,
