The last time I heard the Devics was over a decade ago, after sipping my first cocktail. I was handed a cassette tape of the opening band at the Whisky A Go Go, after playing a show. Three releases later I was fortunate to stumble across them again, with their new release 'The Stars at Saint Andrea' on Bella Union records. The Device's recorded the new album in a farmhouse in Saint Andrea, Italy.
The decadently rich, dark and dreamy Los Angeles based band is composed of Dustin O'Halloran on guitar and keyboards, Sara Luv on vocals, and Ed Maxwell on bass.
Unfolding the album is the gorgeous 'Red Morning,' which begins with moody acoustic guitar then light drums and glassy guitars and shimmering keys soften the mood as the beautiful voiced Sara Luv confidently sings. Her voice similar to a coherent Hope Sandoval of Maze Star. Interesting keyboard melodies on a heavy dose of shrooms sew the fabrics of this song. The recording quality is very clean and showcases each member in a distinctly clear tone.
Luv softly sings 'Follow me to nowhere, if you want to go there,' on 'Don't Take It Away'composed with lightly tapped drums sticking like glue, to the groovy bass line. Spectacular keyboards melodies and beautifully picked acoustic guitar twinkle in the mix.
The melancholy jangle 'In Your Room' Dustin O'Halloran takes the mic, later joined by Luv. 'My True Love' explodes with Cocteau Twins guitar shrills, against the deep breathes of Sara's effected and effective vocals ask she exclaims 'If I could . . .die I would / One day you will know as the winds begin to blow / Think of the stories that he brings from where he goes . . .' The lurking jazzy shadows of 'All Your Beautiful Trees,' could find refuge in a deserted Vegas Lounge as well as 'The End and the Beginning.'
'Safer Shores' sound as if Portishead and Pink Floyd collaborated as Dustin dominates the mic against this angstful track riveted with beautiful distorted guitar leads. The demented lullaby 'Connecting the Strings,' haunted by drowning sultry vocals and Tom Waits-ish keyboard melodies as if he had joined Portishead.
The soft piano laden waltz 'Stretch Out Your Arms,' is a perfect canvas for Luv to paint using her passionate voice which swirls her tones, high and low into the midnight sky as she awaits a prayer from above. Winding things down even more to a sparse whistling and heavy piano chimes with the closing track entitled 'Ending' the album set in the distant horizons. |