Q (p.129) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "There's some strong contemporary material...in particular the sweetly nostalgic 'The Dancing' and 'Send Us A Quiet Night', a haunting, prayer-like appeal for those in peril at sea."
Dirty Linen (p.51) - "Tabor is as fresh today as when she first appeared on the scene three decades ago, with a voice that has beautifully ripened with time."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.118) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "June has a rare spring in her step -- stunning opening track 'The Dancing provides unbridled joy alongside the seductive sentiment and unapologetic nostalgia."
Personnel: June Tabor (vocals); Andy Cutting (accordion); Mark Emerson (piano); Tim Harries (double bass).
Due to her rich, burnished voice, fondness for traditional ballads (many of which don't end well for their subjects), and occasional tendency towards doomy, portentous phrasing, June Tabor has an undeserved reputation as the dark princess of British folk music, the scene's emotional equivalent to Nick Cave or Joy Division's Ian Curtis. APPLES is the antithesis of this perception, an album that's often as playful as her duo albums with Maddy Prior as the Silly Sisters. With a small band led by pianist Mark Emerson and accordion player Andy Cutting, APPLES favors sprightly, danceable songs as well as Tabor's trademark ballads. Largely featuring traditional material like "The Old Garden Gate" and "I Love My Love," this is a simple, straightforward record that could have been recorded at any point in June Tabor's long career.