Full Review

Caroline Herring – Golden Apples of the Sun

Caroline’s fourth album ‘Golden Apples of the Sun’ builds on the critical success of her previous albums, and her development over the course of her discs has seen her grow into a fully rounded and mature artist who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best contemporary singer/songwriters.
There’s a confidence running through this album that shows itself in both the choice of material and the stripped-down sound that runs throughout the 12 songs.
Produced by David Goodrich, the whole album has an intimate and unproduced feel that puts Herring’s guitar and vocals front and centre, it has the feel of a low-key live show, and the quality of her performance shows her to be an artist brimming with ability and at ease with her craft.
While her previous albums have been very obviously easily identified with the traditions, stories and landscapes of her native South, this disc takes a slightly different approach as influences from Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins & Kate Wolf are evident in her songs and their presentation.
The sound is unguarded and intimate, and this suits the material she’s chosen that is a mixture of her own pieces and some surprising songs – her own ‘Tales of the Islander’ & ‘The Dozens’ are beautifully constructed lyrical pieces, but it’s a couple of the songs she didn’t write that will steal the show. The traditional ‘Long Black Veil’ is a classic tale that Herring delivers with real emotional power, and her reading of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘True Colors’ gives it a strength and directness that I certainly missed first time around!.
The beautiful songs and guitar work form the framework for her vocals, and on ‘Golden Apples of the Sun’ she’s never sounded better, there’s a delicacy and world-weariness that makes her perfect for emotionally powerful songs; there are moments here that are breathtaking in their power and simplicity.
For the last few years Caroline Herring has been one of the best low-key singer/songwriters around, and this album shows a confidence and power that will bring her to a wider audience.