JOHN HERRING is a Salford singer/songwriter who doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions, but has been gigging hard since the turn of the year and is now beginning to catch the ears of those on the live circuit in London as well as all over Lancashire thanks to his soulful and honest approach. The six songs here have their roots firmly planted in Langworthy but resonate outwards, whilst the mixing desk strategy sets the delay heavy and the gain high, placing the emphasis on introspection.
'Unobtrusive’ is beautifully produced by Herring, along with Rob Bee of Sale’s Bee Studios in Manchester. ‘Deep Winter’ evolves out of arpeggios that grow in size and volume, the squeaking ambience before the song shimmers and slides with the help of rolling drums, the odd acoustic rhythm sounding studied and stayed before the song comes to a shimmering climax.
Understated vocals come from beneath the stacatto pulse to complain that it’s all about “style over substance” with the help of crazed synth sounds and splashes of distortion that detract from can’t sway the acoustic from it’s head-down mission to retain control of the groove. It mirrors the song’s sentiment (an honest acount of dishonesty) and the jazzy chords and harmonic touches give this a deliciously downbeat feel.
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Successive ballads go dedicated to lost love and the memory of his dad, making for revealing heart-on-the-sleeve glances at the source of one man’s creative potential, whilst FX make the strings surf through the dizzying head of a girl who lives in an ethereal world of her own. ‘Divine World Of Make-Believe’ is a stand-out offering and the undoubted highlight for me, though the title-track finale ‘Unobtrusive’ is probably the best vehicle for Herring’s strong vocal abilities.
Herring's live shows take him out of the shadows of Salford into the glare of Manchester’s bright lights and beyond - right into the nooks and crannies all over the north of England - and his solid delivery makes him an endearing live performer. His debut is hugely impressive: this writer strongly urges you to give it a listen.
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