Are you in for a surprise! Tucked away in the hills of Virginia is a woman with talent that can blow your socks off. Those of you lucky enough to catch her on one of her many stops on her long tours of the right side of the map know what I'm talking about. Those of us on the left are a lot less lucky and familiar with Keating who shines on this debut album.

[Blue] Apples is a bold and refreshing blend of Vicky's sweet powder keg of a voice and her ability to write tight, powerful numbers full of superb instrumentation, giving support to her original, haunting poetry. "Boy With A Kite" is a whimsical, upbeat feast of cello, violin, electric and acoustic guitar, percussion, bass and keyboards. This one has a wonderfully quirky, orchestrated feel that had me thinking of XTC, only softer. "He's starting to unwind/A boy with a kite/He don't care if it's day or night/Just wants to fly that kite/This is his one man scene/Putting on a show just for me." Another favorite is the sensually dark, haunting "Shoot For The Moon" wherein we are treated to the smoky, lower register of this multi-faceted voice. Hypnotic and entracing with soft keyboard and guitar, rolling drums, trembling cymbals and ethereal harmonies. "I'd like to be in love, never to refuse/Buddha in my belly or Vishnu in my shoes."

This unique artist defies category. A gift to the world of music. From provocative to downright fun, this one is sure to remain on PLAY in the stereo for a long time to come. That is, of course, until her next one arrives...Most highly recommended.