Drift is the debut album by the Irish band the Devlins, released in 1993.[1][2] It was delayed due to organizational changes at Capitol Records; a rerelease campaign also followed in 1994.[3][4] The first single was "I Knew That".[5] The band supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with Sarah McLachlan.[6][7]Drift was a modest commercial success.[8]
Production
The album was produced primarily by Malcolm Burn; it was his second credited album production, and he was chosen in part due to his inexperience.[5][3]Robert Bell worked on one of the tracks.[9]Drift was recorded at the Devlins' home studio, Kingsway Studio, and AIR Studios.[6] Although the band didn't think there was much of an "Irish quality" to the album, they were influenced by the sound of Van Morrison's Astral Weeks.[10] Most of the album's songs were written by singer Colin Devlin.[11] The title track is about feeling detached from people.[12] "I Knew That" is about a failed romantic relationship.[13]
The Kitchener-Waterloo Record deemed the album "primarily acoustic music, of a folk-rock nature, and the Devlins' songs cohere nicely to the strengths of that genre ... the true strength here might well be lyrical rather than musical."[16]Rolling Stone wrote that the band "capitalizes on singer-songwriter-guitarist Colin Devlin's precocious pop sensibility, opting for the lithe arrangements that allow the group ... to experiment with different textures while still giving the melodies room to breathe."[17]Stereo Review opined that "the rhythm section, bassist Peter Devlin and drummer Sean Devitt, gives these tunes a crackling energy reminiscent of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie."[18] The Chicago Tribune determined that the Devlin brothers "try too hard to be like U2 and INXS."[15] The Times Colonist praised the "bright, pop sensibility, glorious sibling harmonies, and strong, surprisingly mature lyrics."[19]
AllMusic wrote that "hushing vocals carry the entire 11-song set list and make Drift an ethereal beauty."[14]
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