Review Saitenkult.de

ERIC DEVRIES – Song & Dance Man
2021 (MiG Music) – Stil: Americana/Country

Eric Devries ist DER Singer-Songwriter der niederländischen Americana-Szene. In den Neunzigerjahren trat er noch als Frontmann von THE BIG EASY auf, doch seit 2004 veröffentlicht er seine Solo-Scheiben.

´Song & Dance Man´ ist mittlerweile sein viertes Werk. Der Sänger/Gitarrist aus Utrecht muss allerdings dabei mit dem Ruhm des gefeierten Vorgängerwerkes zurechtkommen. Doch gemeinsam mit Bassist Lucas Beukers, Geiger Joost van Es und Produzent/Multiinstrumentalist Janos Koolen gelingt es ihm, auf zwölf frischen Kompositionen erneut seine Klasse zu beweisen.

Liebe und Depressionen, viele menschliche Schicksalsschläge verarbeitet Eric Devries einfühlsam und gekonnt in seinen schönen Songs voller Country, Blues und Folk, die in diesen oft einsamen Tagen die Seele berühren.

(Michael Haifl)

Review on Israbox..

In the case of Eric Devries, we are somewhat familiar with his ‘Hidden Agenda’, at least as far as the musical part is concerned. The duo with that other musician and songwriter Jan Baartmans grew into Hidden Agenda Deluxe, reinforced with a rhythm section and organ player. An out of combo that not without merit adapted the American roots on Pan Alley Fever and Angels in The Snow, a collaboration with the Canadian band Oh Sussanah. Afterwards, together with Baartmams, he was spotted at Matthews Southern Comfort. With Songs & Dances, Devries is now working on his fourth solo project.

Devries opted for a more intimate approach and an acoustic setting. Producer and multi-instrumentalist Janus Kolen adds subtle accents with mandolin banjo, dobro, accordion… We also hear violin contributions from Joost van Es and bassist Lucas Beukers provides rhythmic support.

Immediately after the countdown it becomes clear the horny Little White Lines tracks on honky tonk tracks with twanging strings and harmonica. In Jericho Walls, banjo and violin set the tone and support the vocals. It is flanked by the harmonic backing of Sophie Janna, who we remember from The Lasses. ”When I heard the Man sing ‘Hard Noise The Highway’, the sparkling title track is a thinly veiled tribute to Van Morrison.

In this way Devries always takes you along in carefully elaborated stories. The time when you have no control or the inevitable problems that arise with every new love, the Matters of Love meandering on wonderful strings and the melancholy intoxicated All I Know How To Do.

Pause for a moment on the relaxed, banjo fiddle-driven cajun tones of Another Round and we wind up in the concluding section with Don’t Let Me Be. The softly flying Mary is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful stages of a flawless course that ends in absolute beauty after the fiddler song But For The Grace. Sunday Eve in Amsterdam, a wistful look in the rear-view mirror, floats on acoustic guitar, tender clarinet and strings. Song & Dance Man is undoubtedly one of the better works from the song forge of the Low Countries and far beyond.



https://www.israbox-music.com/3137921194-eric-devries-song-amp-dance-man-2021.html

Review Lust For Life Magazine

This is already the fourth solo album by songsmith Eric Devries. An especially intimate album where the Amsterdammer is accompanied by gitarist Janos Koolen, bassist Lucas Beukers, violinist Joost van Es and Sophie Janna on backing vocals. The twelve songs are nearly all acoustic and would fit in perfectly with Matthews Southern Comfort’s repertoire, the band that Devries was part of for the last four years. And that means friendly retro-country rock from the American West-coast, with meaningful lyrics and melodies that effortlessly find their way  into your consience. In ‘Another Round’ Devries takes a jaunty sidestep into Bluegrass and also the following songs ‘Don’t Let Me Be’ and ‘But For The Grace’ lean heavily towards this genre. Kind of in the vain of Chris Hillman and his Desert Rose Band from days gone by. There is, to be fair, nothing wrong with ‘Song & Dance Man’. On the contrary, it is without a doubt one of the best albums from The Netherlands in this genre this year. 4 stars out of 5

Review ‘Song & Dance Man’ at The Barrier

John Barlass from At The Barrier.com writes: {..} the real icing on the cake is Eric’s clear, tuneful voice, which manages to suit each song absolutely perfectly – and you’d never guess his Dutch roots – his is a voice that comes to you directly from Nashville! Song & Dance Man is a thoroughly rewarding listening experience. {..} Song & Dance Man is an album that needs to be heard – and once you’ve heard it, you’ll want to repeat the experience again and again.  click to read more..