When I reviewed Holly’s third album, ‘Stretching The Sky’, I came up with a list of words I was trying to use to describe the album, delicious, seductive, compelling, beautiful, indispensable, folky, wonderful, enthralling, but in the end didn’t use any of them and instead used the word that was far more accurate, perfect. So when this six-track 26-minute-long EP arrived in the mail I knew I was in for a treat, and try as I might to keep reviewing in the sequence of receipt in the end I couldn’t put off playing it any longer so it has been bumped up the list. Having listened to it more than just a few times I then of course had to write about it, and now here I am playing it yet again listening to that wonderful voice telling her amazing stories, with accompaniment which somehow is always just right. “Emerald River” has cellos and piano, her voice, and absolutely nothing else because it is majestic as it is and nothing else is required.

Some songs are more upbeat, with a guitar, but always with Holly front and centre. The last of the six, “Renaissance”, even features a full band, with percussion, guitar, bass and piano, recorded live. I have been incredibly fortunate over the last few years to discover some incredible female singers such as Elfin Bow, Little Sparrow, Lee Martin and RISE, and Holly definitely needs to be included in that list. She is never afraid to have all accompaniment and “protection” removed and the song to be carried on her voice alone. It captures me, takes me to a different place, and I feel I am lost inside forever.

Rating: 9/10

Links:
https://www.hollydjohnston.co.uk/
https://backwaterrecords.com/