Spider’s rare voice has the uncanny ability to drape any audience in a warm blanket to tell hushed stories of fantasy and wonder. You can’t help but feel as if she’s whispering dreams directly into your ear, sharing secrets of youthful wisdom and grace from an old soul. The Way To Bitter Lake spins a delicate web of drifting melodies through strummed guitar and subtle instrumentation that enwraps the unsuspecting listener and refuses to let go. Throughout the album’s eight songs, Herships patiently wanders alone with her guitar, occasionally calling for contributions such as gentle vocal harmonies on the opener, “The Clearing,” or lush strings and mellotron on “The Bitter One.” However, she might not be quite as soft and sweet as we’re led to believe – epic, feedback-ridden electric guitar work concludes the otherwise lullaby-like “Maggie’s Song For Alice,” the emotional and sonic climax of the album. As a whole, The Way To Bitter Lakehas a discernable narrative flow, each song a new chapter before the double denouement of “Midnight on the Nile” and “Endsong.”
Spider has played extensively in NYC since December of 2004. Though she’s played guitar since age 14, it’s only in the very recent past she began having a go at songwriting. Right from the start, the songs she composed have been remarkable. Having established herself on the New York scene she’s gone on to play around the country, sharing bills with Edith Frost, Jose Gonzalez and Josephine Foster.
Other projects of hers include Magic Star, a collaboration with world-renowned artist and fashion designer Susan Cianciolo which recently performed in the Netherlands at Sittard’s Museum for Contemporary Art. There’s also The Burners, a lady rock duo with fashion photographer KT Auleta.
The Way To Bitter Lake contains a rare timelessness that evokes the feeling of old-time folk while remaining unmistakably current and fresh. A truly stunning debut from a beautiful new voice in homespun folk-rock.