Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo

‘Dear River’ is the fourth studio album from Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, an eleven track studio album which marks their first release through Linn Records. With its beautiful mix of classical, rock, country and folk, this is an album that will undoubtedly appeal to many and should surely increase the reputation of Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo hugely.

Right from the opening number and title track ‘Dear River’, the vocals of Emily Barker really strike you here and the instrumental presence of The Red Clay Halo is also absolutely sublime. Vocally Emily Barker has a great amount to offer and with the instrumental backing of Anna Jenkins, Gill Sandell, and Jo Silverston, a sublimely soothing sound is provided that is at all times an absolute delight to listen to. Sometimes you find yourself lost in the vocals of Emily Barker, at other times it’s the instrumental side of things that grabs your attention however and has you deep in thought as you take in this all female group’s fantastic talent.

In 2012 Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo performed with Frank Turner at the Olympics Opening Ceremony, and listening to this album it’s not hard to tell why the group was chosen to perform at such a high profile event. ‘Dear River’ is an album that grabs you right from the start and has you absolutely gripped throughout with its vocal delight and instrumental excellence. Regardless of your musical tastes, this is an album that everyone can surely appreciate for its sheer display of musical beauty. There’s the energetic appeal of ‘Tuesday’, the simply delicious ‘Everywhen’, the haunting nature of ‘Ghost Narrative’; at every turn there’s something a little bit different but in every way as compelling to listen to here.

With final track ‘The Blackwood’, Emily Barker showcases the extent of her talent as a vocalist, filling the first 30 seconds of the track with her voice alone before the rest of the band is brought in. It’s hard not to be impressed with the strength and power with which she opens the track; there’s no doubting the ability of the instrumental aspects of the Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo sound, with this track though you really appreciate just how engaging Emily Barker is as a vocalist and the ability that she has to grab you with her incredible vocal tone.

‘Dear River’ is an album that everyone should seek to listen to at least the once, its quality demands that you shouldn’t really stop there, but listening to it at least once is definitely an absolute must. Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo impress greatly throughout the entirety of this album, conveying a variety of moods and messages in an eleven track album release that’s definitely a testament to their strength and ability as musicians. It’s a rich album that you can get plenty out of when listening, there’s so much to appreciate and admire here and plenty to enjoy about the way in which Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo go about their music. ‘Dear River’ is a studio album that’s definitely not one to be missed.

Rating : 4.5/5