Rounder Records

*****

Virginia-born singer-songwriter Caroline Spence has been slowly but surely building a solid fan base for her honest and introverted music since her 2013 six-song EP launched her music career. MINT CONDITION, her third full-length album—her first for Rounder— is a culmination of hard-earned lessons, growing up, and moving past life’s fruitless anxieties. Throughout the eleven-track collection, Caroline poignantly articulates the pain and chaos of modern times, while also lifting up her enduring and hopeful belief in the fundamental goodness of humanity. It’s full of searching … for self, hope, change and love. In simple but poetic words she captures everyday moments through a vibrant lens, transforming ordinary situations like the loneliness in Sometimes A Woman Is An Island into extraordinary opportunities to think, feel and appreciate our world – even when it feels like all is lost.

Travelling and transition feature prominently throughout these 11 songs as Caroline explores the passing of time, the search for ‘home,’ and a deep desire to summon optimism and hope in a dark world.  What You Don’t Know, the opening track, is immediately infectious with its bouncy pop-laden rock and soaring harmonies.  Perfect for the open road, or the warm embrace of a turntable, Angels Or Los Angeles is a wind drifting off somewhere without expectation or pretence as Caroline takes the listener on a road trip across America. Others like the delicate Sit Here And Love Me highlight the vulnerability and honesty in her voice and delivery. The Long Haul is percolating country-pop with hooks a-plenty, crunchy beats and charming vocals. Absolutely addictive with its thoughtful lyricism. Throughout this album there’s layers and depth to the music, vocals and lyrics which makes for a great listen and makes me eager to hear more.

With striking arrangements that are the perfect vessels for her songcraft, not to mention a voice that is full of rustic mystique, Caroline Spence is a writer and storyteller with timeless appeal. There’s no doubt that she’s poured her heart into this album. As you listen, you feel like you’re right beside her as she sings about the ups and downs of her life and relationships. This album bears witness to the determination of putting one foot in front of the other and to the power of music to get you there. Emmylou Harris adds her distinctive harmonies to the closing title track, as a way of endorsing Caroline Spence as a relatively new kid on the block destined for great things.

www.carolinespencemusic.com

April 2019