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Kerry Devine - “Away From Mountains” Opening with the cello-adorned ‘Charleston Town’ and the diffused ‘Lines In The Landscape', these quietly-strummed tales lead you down the dark back roads previously explored by the likes of Mazzy Star . But you’re not there for long. The meditative quality prevails for sure, but later we have electro influences as well on ‘Work You’ and 'Ariel' and even hints of circa-1970's Fleetwood Mac on 'Not Telling You'. Lyrically, the songs are very relationship-themed but have an unvarnished style that keeps it feeling personal and intimate ("I've been strolling down the aisle at Fotheringhay/ Wondering what you'd say/ You're seeped in the walls of my memories"). This style is very much suited to Kerry’s emotive voice, which can be suitably dramatic or understated depending on the song’s story. Kerry is also a fine guitar player with a brilliantly fluid picking style and her band give fine performances with arrangements that creep in rather than announce themselves, the hallmark of a proper band.
Kerry has turned in an album that roams in a beguiling wilderness rather than the familiar and comfortable urban territory of regular popular music. This will also appeal to fans of Angel Olsen, Everything But The Girl, 'Tales Of Us’-era Goldfrapp and maybe even Lana Del Ray. Rich |
