• Emily Barker is a singer songwriter of rare depth and individuality. Her new album, Dear River, is a compelling song cycle that marks an unmistakable watershed in her rapidly burgeoning career. • 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. • The pressing is on 180 gram vinyl and is manufactured by the prestigious Pallas firm in Germany, which is highly regarded by vinyl lovers everywhere. • With Linn and Blue Nile producer Calum Malcolm at the helm, the result is a beautiful, sensitive, provocative and at times surprising album, all the more potent for the immaculate sound quality, gleaned from state-ofthe art studios and equipment. • Hailing from Bridgetown, Western Australia, Emily Barker has proven herself to be a compelling songwriter with a gift for weaving melody and words. • She became known to a whole new audience when two of her songs, Nostalgia and Pause, featured as the theme music for the hit BBC TV shows Wallander and The Shadow Line respectively. • Emily’s talent is perfectly complemented by the magnificent arrangements of her band The Red Clay Halo, whose rootsy ensemble playing underpins Barker’s agile vocal blend of strength and fragility. • The Red Clay Halo band consists of Gill Sandell (accordion, harmonium, piano), Jo Silverston (cello) and Anna Jenkins (violin, viola). ‘capable of sensuous Joni Mitchell-style fragility’ 7/10 Daily Star ‘There should be room for those as talented as Emily Barker’ 4/5 Evening Standard ‘Her evocations and piquant emotional terrain are enlivened by a vocal with the clarity of Dolly Parton’ 4/5 Daily Mirror ‘Her fourth album... finds her going from strength to strength’ 3.5/5 The Sun ‘simply great songs’ 4/5 R2 ROCK 'n' REEL ‘a wonderful musical experience’ 7/10 The 405 ‘Every so often, an album comes along that reminds you why you love the medium’ 4/5 The Arts Desk ‘a controlled, beautifully spacious and dynamic recording’ 5/5 What Hi Fi ‘Bloody Amazing... a classic album’ 4.5/5 Maverick Magazine ‘Her fourth album... finds her in sublime form’ 8/10 Hi Fi + ‘an impressive achievement’ 4/5 Country Music People ‘a beautiful album’ 4/5 Culture Fly ‘There’s some truly astonishing records at the moment... Dear River is at the very top of that pile.’ Louder Than War