The Red Clay Halo

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo – Dear River (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:15:53 minutes | 831 MB | Genre: Folk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records

Full of contrasting dynamics and a broad cavalcade of emotions ‘Dear River’ is a fascinating exploration of self, place and people which sees Emily blend her own story into the wider joys and sorrows gleaned from her rigorous researches into others’ experiences of travel and emigration. With producer Calum Malcolm (The Blue Nile) at the helm, the result is a beautiful, sensitive, provocative and at times surprising album.
‘I’m so happy with this album.’ says Emily, barely containing her excitement, ‘The whole concept means so much to me and although the songs are quite personal, they also feel like they could be other people’s stories – it’s the best recording we’ve done.’

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Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo – Almanac (2011)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 41:20 minutes | 834 MB | Genre: Folk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Everyone Sang

Within ‘Almanac’ there are stories of love, renewal, the importance of community and our relationship to the earth. Shadowing these lighter themes are darker truths of untold atrocities committed by settlers on indigenous Australians during colonisation, the mass hysteria regarding a Scottish witch-hunt, flourishing love and good old-fashioned heartbreak.

Although fronted by Emily, this is definitely a group album, with the four members of Emily, Gill, Jo and Anna providing guitar, accordion & flute, cello and violin respectively, with backing vocals shared out across the eleven songs. The quartet are joined throughout the disc by guest musicians who add a range of guitars, percussion and double bass, that add depth and drive to the collection. Emily is a compelling songwriter with a gift for melody and words. Her talent is perfectly complimented by the magnificent arrangements of The Red Clay Halo. Throughout the album, the interplay between the band’s rootsy ensemble playing, and Barker’s agile vocal blend of strength and fragility, is effortlessly engaging. In moments when the four female voices combine to deliver arresting harmonies, it is simply blissful.

Highlights include the dreamy textures of ‘Billowing Sea’, the nimble arrangements of ‘Reckless’, and the atmospheric lyrics of ‘Witch of Pittenweem’. ‘Almanac’ is a beautifully constructed and charming album, it certainly feels organic and natural, and the presentation of the songs is unaffected and with a real genuine air.

Upon its release ‘Almanac’ immediately attracted strong support from BBC Radio with sessions for Cerys Matthews on 6 Music and Radio 4’s Loose Ends, and single ‘Little Deaths’ was picked as ‘Record of the Week’ on Nemone’s 6 Music show. The album was also named ‘Editor’s Choice’ by BBC Music Magazine.

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