Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo - Almanac (2011) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

"Almanac" is the third studio album by Anglo-Australian quartet Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. It includes the song 'Pause', the theme tune from the award-winning soundtrack of BBC TV drama The Shadow Line.

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.

Tracklist:

01 - Billowing Sea
02 - Reckless
03 - Ropes
04 - Little Deaths
05 - Dancers
06 - Pause
07 - Openings
08 - Calendar
09 - Light
10 - Witch of Pittenweem
11 - Bones

Produced by Emily Barker and Ted Barnes.
Recorded, Engineered and additional production by Cherif Hashizume at Café Music Studio, Bow.
Mixed by Cherif Hashizume and Mark Sutherland.
Mastered by Tim Turan at turanaudio.co.uk

Musicians:
Emily Barker: vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, percussion, metallophone and chimes
Gill Sandell: backing vocals, accordion, flute, pipe organ, piano and electric guitar
Jo Silverston: backing vocals, cello, banjo and musical saw
Anna Jenkins: backing vocals and violin
Dom Coyote: vocals on 'Witch of Pittenweem'
Ted Barnes: acoustic and electric guitars, slide guitar, mandolin, percussion, glockenspiel, thumb piano and toys
Nat Butler: drums
Ali Friend: double bass
Liz Jones: trumpet
Ben Eshmade: french horn and flugel horn


Thanks to the Original customer!