REVIEW: Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo (From Swindon Advertiser)

REVIEW: Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo

8:49am Monday 14th November 2011 in Reviews By Stephen Webb

THE songs of Emily Barker get beneath the skin, and hearing her perform them live also has a physical reaction.

Shivers down the spine, goosebumps on the arms, a lump in the throat and a tear in the eye – I came away from the Arts Centre both drained and exhilarated.

Forgive me for gushing, but this was a show that combined beautiful songwriting with a charming performance, and it’s just a pity more people weren’t in the Arts Centre audience to witness it.

Drawing mainly from this year’s release Almanac, the set gave us stories of tortured relationships, of hopes and dreams, and, in the case of The Witch Of Pittenweem, a horrible history.

Current single Billowing Sea opened the gig jauntily and a gentle rollercoaster ride followed.

Two songs, Pause and Nostalgia, are familiar thanks to the successful TV crime dramas The Shadow Line and Wallander, and both were haunting in their melancholy.

More upbeat was the lilting Reckless and the catchy Calendar, the latter based on a 1970s poem warning of pending environmental disaster.

But not only does Emily Barker write lovely songs, she is also blessed with a wonderful voice, and a talented band. Cellist Jo Silverston, violinist Anna Jenkins and flautist/accordionist Gill Sandell are fine musicians, and their sometimes complex harmonies give the performance an extra flourish.