If you are a fan of thoughtful acoustic folk music, definitely consider giving Emma O’Reilly’s new album a chance.
The opening track has a melancholy energy to it, a lament about the necessity of love as a way of helping us navigate this world as humans. There’s a heartfelt expressiveness in the vocal at the core of the track. The balance between the guitars and piano creates a full, satisfying sound. The titular refrain, “only love” becomes a soothing commentary, introducing the sentiment of the rest of the EP.
The second track, “River” keeps the acoustic guitar style and solid vocal. This one is a bit minimalist, which is a bit closer to my own sensibilities. Something about the song feels hopeful, with chord choices that indicate a future of possibilities. The image that comes to my mind is actually canoeing in the Allegheny River as a young man; I love how the river references cast forth a vision of taking an adventure into the future that will bring resolution to a broken relationship. Follow the river home.
“Aedh” is a unique vocal song that absolutely stole my heart on first listen. As someone who’s been featuring vocal-focused folk music for over a decade, this song felt like it fell from the heavens right for my ears. There is an almost cathedral-esque production quality here, allowing the voices to resonate with this wonderful quality. I’m not sure how or where this was recorded, but it feels truly transcendent.
The final track “Getting in the Way” returns to the opener’s sense of melancholy. It’s plaintive in the lyrical delivery, but it works for the mood of the track. There’s some sort of glass or percussive instrument (singing bowls, maybe?) in the background that create a bit of an unsettling sense to this one. There’s an almost ominous emotional sense to this track that I find is a fascinating way to end the EP.
All told, the four tracks represent two that are melancholy and two that feel more bright and hopeful. I personally prefer the middle two tracks, but I’m sure that folk fans will find a lot to like in the entirety of the EP. It’s experimental, risk-taking, and bold. I appreciate the artistry on this EP from start to finish. If you’re looking for something new, give Emma O’Reilly’s introspective and fascinating new experimental folk EP a spin.
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