Butterfly Cara breaks out of her cocoon

The history of rock'*'roll is littered with memorable image changes from David Bowie to Bob Dylan and on Friday at High Barn, Cara Winter attempted one of her own.

Her shift from solo piano player to front woman of a full band was, in fairness, more of an evolution than Bowie's and Dylan's respective revolutions, but a radical one nevertheless.

Throughout the evening, musicians hopped on and off stage to flesh out Cara's whimsical, moving songs.

On the occasions that the full line-up was in place, Cara stood at the microphone flanked by piano, double bass, cello, drums and two backing vocalists.

On the night's most memorable song Roll Up Roll Up, that heady mix was augmented further by Cara's own accordion playing.

Her best material has always been other-worldly, ethereal, almost spooky and Roll Up Roll Up is her finest hour.

Alongside the new material, her set was sprinkled with a healthy selection of older songs from the promising debut album Butterfly, with Cara returning to her more accustomed position at the piano and providing a clear demonstration of just how far she has already come.

Having said that, she is still very much a work in progress, an artist finding her voice and brave enough to do it in public.

A couple of later songs barely breached the two-minute mark and, in honesty, were little more than demos, but you could hear the kernel of fine songs and they gave a further indication of the evocative avenues she may choose to go down.

Leaving the security blanket of her piano to one side to step into the full glare of the lights with just a microphone was a bold move and one that, on the evidence of this gig, will pay off handsomely.

leachc@hertsessexnews.co.uk



17 May 2007