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Carol Henry: It's Not Dark in Here

Opener Stalling starts out simply voice and guitar but soon flowers into a full production with strings and backing vocals. It's one of many catchy tunes that are easy on the ear, as the entire album is. Carol Henry is an accomplished vocalist with influences that must include Sheryl Crowe, possessing a similiar combination of wistfulness and tone, with almost as much rock sensibility. In other places she brings to mind Shona Laing. My favourite was the title track where Henry makes emotive use of her upper register, in good contrast to her rock voice. It is lyrically a strong statement, best appreciated with the knowledge that she is in fact blind. This album should fit into the pop genre, but unfortunately pop can be a narrow category these days. The arrangements are sophisticated, and all production and players sound international, especially the guitars, which are beautifully played by Matthew Newman as well as being well recorded. Henry writes all the songs, some with producer Phil Riley. Engineered and mixed by Ross McDermot at Life of Riley Studios, mastered by Steve Garden. Well worth the listen.