Here I Go Again by Britt Devens

 \11.9.23\

    Front range local Britt Devens has been crafting folky tracks with a delicate attitude since an EP, All the Pretty Things in 2016. A disciplined and self-taught singer/songwriter, There is a great depth to her work that spans the themes of love and loss, with a strong focus on the moments and people that help us grow and we grow from. More than anything, her music is an avenue for self-exploration and healing while providing a comfortable space for others. By creating this mirror through her work, one can peer into themselves as well.

    This is the first full length album from Britt and comes on the tail of the end of an educational career and a relationship she was ready to leave in the rearview mirror. Following a while spent traveling and performing, sometimes with a band, sometimes for a beer and some food, Devens eventually landed back in her home state. Now, sober and better footing, Here I Go Again is here to show off what all of those years of lessons and growth have to show. On the production side is a familiar name to this blog, with co-producer Ben Pisano of Corsican makes an appearance. 

    Starting off with a classic folky feeling track “Tell Me”, the stage is set with reluctant drums mixed with plenty of the bass to fill out the sounds between acoustic guitar and violin that give it a very bright and warm feeling. The lyrics play with themes of confusion in where to go in a relationship, wanting to get closer to them while you feel they’re holding back. It can be complicated enjoying the fun of being with someone while there’s a divide in how close each person wants to get. 

    We graduate to an electric guitar that doesn’t want to speak too loudly at the start of the title track, where it effectively bridges us into a southwestern country sound, reminiscent of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Southern Pacific. Specifically this track reminds me of “New Shade of Blue”, which coincidentally is mentioned in a track from Calicoco who was featured last month. Ben Waligoske makes his appearance on the track “Over-Lovin’ You” where the country sound intensifies, diving us deeper into what I like to call “route-66-core” variety of highway driving, road tripping vibes. “Goodbye LA” keeps the wheels rolling down the 101, singing to us about train traveling the coast between LA and San Diego. All of these tracks illustrate the ups and downs of getting over the ones we can’t bring with us on the journey.

    We see a reprise back to the theme at the beginning in “Virgin Champagne”, starting off low and slow, with a focus on the desire for intimacy in a relationship and trying to keep things fresh. “Can we go back to me and you?” The question asks for things the way they were, while acknowledging you’re both growing and changing. The title references how Britt is now sober, and I’m sure many people can attest to the strain this can unwittingly introduce to friendships and relationships where drinking was common and it can be awkward to move away from that without changing things fundamentally between you and them. Throughout this, we’re carried by the same delicate yet passionate at times electric guitar that harkens back to the title track. 

    “I Kinda like” shows things down to focus on the small things, and the little gestures and mannerisms we learn to love in our significant other. “Get the hint” is a new rendition of a song originally put out by Britt in January of 2016, bringing more polish and a coherent studio sound to it. This track really comes into its own with this remake, giving the climax more space to bloom with more instrumental layering and vocals that echo like a choir. “Virgin Champagne was also previously released in 2017, but the difference is more like that of a demo track than a reworking like on here.

    A lot of these hounds come to be on the final track “Pretty Butterflies” with the electric guitar and violin playing a sort of back and forth, call and answer that adds great depth to the focused playing of Britt not only on acoustic but in vocals too. The lyrics explore feelings of being possessive and undeserving all at the same time, building walls while branching out. The metaphor uses the person she's with as the butterfly they’re unworthy of keeping yet too controlling to want to let them fly away. Closing the record out, We are allowed to fly away and begin our own journey.