Lowell Sun
Folk Band "reinfatuated with the Beats"
- by Dave Perry (1996)
Devonsquare is best known for it's crystalline harmonies and
folk-pop playing. But after a few album for Atlantic Records and a
recent creative revitalization, the trio has put out it's own new
disc, Industrial Twilight (on Dev Records) which plumbs the cool and
cadence of the Beats, including Lowell's own Jack Kerouac.
"In the course of writing for this one the framework was just
turning toward more sparse, lyrically-oriented songs," say Alana
MacDonald, who sings and plays violin. "We'd always done more
melodic things, but we really liked the new direction and just became totally reinfatuated with the Beats, reading On
The Road again, listening to the recordings, those guys did. (They
even sample Kerouac's voice on The Bum And The Angel," copping bits
of his performance from Rhino's The Beat Generation box set.)
MacDonald, who has been with the group for 26 years, says it was a
matter of "people our age (all are in their 40's) looking around at
the world and life, and our place in it.
Boston GlobeDevonsquare is right
touch for a warm night
- Scott Alarik
(1987)
Words like "stalwart" and "erstwhile" are sometimes used by guilty
critics to describe artists who have been around for a long time
without receiving much attention. They would certainly describe
Devonsquare, the winning Maine based vocal trio from whose ranks the
popular group Schooner Fare was formed. Their easy professionalism
and lush harmonies fit the living room comfort of Passim to a tee,
making for a lovely way to spend a warm summer evening
The harmonies are the message with Devonsquare, as they were quick
to announce with their opening song "Night Sail" the Van
Morrison-like title song of their latest album. MacDonald's tight
vocal control brought out all the husky sensuality of her voice.
They next sang the decidedly Crosby, Stills, Nash, and
Young-flavored :Donner Pass" an odd contemporary treatment of the
old west saga, but a pretty song complete with the clever breathy
stops in the middle of words that highlighted the best work of CSN&Y.
Between songs the group cheerfully played with the mike stands,
teased each other and told jokes on themselves - making it clear how
much they liked each other, the audience and their jobs.
In all, a Devonsquare concert takes on the smooth peace of a summer
sail: relaxed, soothing and lovely throughout.
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Boston Globe
Devonsquare gets it's big break
- Steve Morse (1992)
Devonsquare, which stands for a defunct square in Portland, Maine,
has finally gotten a big break. They managed to slip a demo tape to
Ahmet Ertegun, president of Atlantic Records, and he signed them
immediately. Atlantic has just released the band's CD, "Walking On
Ice" a glowing collection of harmony rich songs which have been
gaining national airplay on pop and New Age stations.
Times Union
Devonsquare Turns in Mesmerizing Performance
- Greg Haymes (1992)
Listening to their bracing set, you'd never guess that Devonsquare
used to be more at home at Caffe Lena. Backed by a new rock trio,
vocalist-violinist Alana MacDonald turned in mesmerizing
performances on the beat poets tribute "Raining Down On Bleecker
Street" and the mysterious, sexually charged "Far Side Of Love" .
Her vocals dripped with a kind of Shawn Colvin-meets Stevie Nicks
sensuality.
"Tin Man" a new song featuring Herb Ludwig's lone vocal lead of
the night, also hit the bulls eye, offering great promise of things
to come.Boston HeraldThis New Turn
Will Startle
- Daniel Gewertz (1996)
Devonsquare, Maine's veteran vocal trio has achieved a rare feat:
After 20 years with one essential sound, they have utterly altered
their course with the new album "Industrial Twilight."
Instead of slick folk-pop and soft harmonies, their new work
consists of three suites inspired by 50's beat poetry and modern
urban blight. The sound is rougher, keener and more urgent. If you
thought the old Devonsquare approach was too glib, this new turn
will startle. It makes sense they've gone from a major label to
self-produced.
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