Emmy The Great - Iris

Not familiar with the folk-pop sounds of Emmy The Great so excuse my ignorance of past performances/recordings. On first listen it's apparent that 'Iris' has the potential to be a Radio 1 smash. It's immaculately produced, full of singer-songwriter optimism and it's all soft round the edges too. A fluffy dream of a pop single that brings to mind 80's era Patti Smith stripped of her social anxieties and dressed instead in a cute bunny outfit that includes a little bow-tie. With light smatterings of angelic harp this is bound to impress. Flip it over and you get 'Emily', a skeletal composition that features very little other than acoustic guitar and vocal. It's at this point I would normally discuss how the sparse arrangement highlights Emmy The Great's natural talent for songwriting free of the tyranny of studio production and overbearing arrangements...then the backing band and studio trickery kick in. Strong ending.