Caroline’s two previous releases, ‘Twilight’ and ‘Wellspring’ were both huge critical successes, and the release of this new album builds on this reputation, and will inevitably cement her as one of the finest, authentic, singer/songwriters and storytellers on the contemporary folk scene.
A 4 year gap between this album and ‘Wellspring’ has seen marriage and motherhood, and has also resulted in some fully formed, thoughtful and substantial songs.
She digs deep into the roots of the South, and the traditional instrumentation of acoustic guitars, upright bass, fiddle, banjo and pedal steel give the disc an authentic roots feel and a genuine sense of place. This feeling of location is emphasised in her vocals which are smooth and bursting with character, but it’s even more present in the lyrics which are full of references to the rural South.
The centrepiece of the disc is the ‘Paper Gown’, which relates the real tale of Susan Smith, a 23yr old South Carolina woman who drowned her sons, it’s an important story and an important song, Herring’s account of the story is an impressively subtle, moving and memorable piece of writing. Elsewhere, her eight original songs are mixed with two traditional pieces and the high quality of the lyrics, arrangements and overall flow of the disc, mark ‘Lantana’ out as an album of real substance.
It’s an intense and individual album that is full of lyrical and musical highpoints; it’s possibly a little too dark to bring her to an audience outside of the folk and singer/songwriter fans, but those looking for an acoustic album full of character, depth and real quality, ‘Lantana’ is a powerful, intimate low-key masterpiece.

Track listing
1 Stone Cold World
2 Lay My Burden Down
3 Paper Gown
4 Heartbreak Tonight
5 Midnight on the Water
6 States of Grace
7 All the Pretty Little Horses
8 Fair and Tender Ladies
9 Lover Girl
10 Song for Fay

£12.99