Vena Portae – Vena Portae (2014)

Since moving to the UK from Australia, versatile singer-songwriter Emily Barker has written atmospheric themes for Wallander and The Shadow Line, and pioneered a thoughtful, melodic style that eases between Americana and pop-edged alt-folk.

There is some fine harmony vocal work on the acoustic Magpie’s Carol and the quietly stirring finale, All Will Be Well, but Barker dominates with the bleakly cheerful country-pop of Summer Kills, and the banjo and harmonica-backed Transatlantic, by Swedish writer Christian Kjellvander, which features her moody, atmospheric vocal work. Vena Portae is an engaging, confident set.