Emma Langford certainly knows how to weave magic and mystery through a tune. Possessing a beguiling, distinctive voice and a keen ear for a quirky melody, the young Limerick singer-songwriter seems to have arrived fully-formed, on this highly-polished debut.

It’s certainly an ambitious affair. Opener ‘Sandman’ boasts an unforgettable chorus, with Langford’s tones tripping lightly over a complex arrangement of piano, acoustic guitar and violin. There’s a weight and depth to songs such as ‘The Unbearable Lightness Of Being’, with the violin adding romantic strains to the lilting melody. ‘Closed Book’, meanwhile, is reminiscent of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, with the staccato strings adding real drama and tension.

Elsewhere, the almost acapella ‘Tug Of War’ contains soul and gospel influences; the finger-picked guitar and nostalgic melody of ‘The Bell And The Ruin’ recall Paul Simon’s ‘America’; and ‘All You Want’ has strong echoes of Nick Drake. An album that sparkles with surprises. OUT NOW

Rating: 7/10