Sailing Home is folk singer-songwriter Emma O’Reilly’s first substantive release in ten years and acts as a welcome introduction to the artist for us.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Andi Sapey with assistance from Simon Wilkie

Hailing from Galway, Ireland, O’Reilly’s last extended release was 2016’s FRACTURES. Since then, she’s been busy composing and the tracks that make up Sailing Home were originally crafted between 2018 and 2021 partly during a residency at the International Centre for Composers in Visby, Sweden, and partly through exclusive demo releases for her Patreon supporters.

It’s perhaps because of this dual setting that the EP feels like one of two halves. While Only Love and River are soft, acoustic, and more steeped in traditional folk, Aedh and Getting In The Way feel more experimental in nature. That’s not to say that the record lacks an internal coherence. In fact, the diversity of approach means that it stays fresh and interesting throughout.

The glue that holds it all together is the poetic lyrics we encounter. O’Reilly has a way with words and the ability to bring them to life through her compelling vocals. Imagery, introspection, and meditation are in plentiful supply, drawing on themes of home, folklore, natural imagery, mysticism, and personal reflection.

She also love a big finish, and we get elements of gospel and overlapping layers across the EP, most notably in opener Only Love.

River gives us a sense of movement through flowing guitar delivered against a soulful, traditional folk backdrop. Its lyrics are an affirmation.

Aedh is ghostly, ethereal, and atmospheric through its use of ambient sound A minimal percussion and guitar is hypnotic and gives plenty of space to the captivating narrative. It’s a highlight.

Getting In The Way looks outwards at the unravelling of the world reflecting an internal unravelling. O’Reilly is at her most experimental as electronic elements float among the folk.

Among O’Reilly’s influences are Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, the Discovery Gospel Choir, and folklore and storytelling inspired by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estés, and you get a true sense of that in her compositions.

Though I feel a little late to the party, it’s great to be discovering the work of Emma O’Reilly now. I hope we can share more from her soon. If you want to keep up to date with all she’s doing, you can by following her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, and Patreon.

Sailing Home is out now, and you can listen to it below.