"Entrancing and unsettling. A marvellous, original work" **** Observer

"Coracle is, without doubt, one of the folk albums of the year." ***** Songlines

"Dark, dark is the considerable beauty of Emily Portman's work...Portman's songs have a richness and range rarely heard elsewhere' ***** fROOTS. 

"Spooky and surreal"**** Guardian

"A bold album" **** Telegraph (One of the 'Best Folk Albums of 2015")

"Coracle is a triumph...Delicate as a spider’s web, yet tough as memory, this is a rich and remarkable record."*****R2 Magazine

"Together with her previous two albums The Glamoury and Hatchlings, Emily has created an immaculate triptych of darkly brilliant songs. Make sure to be a completist and get this in your life." English Dance and Song Magazine

"An intensely luminous collection of songs" Folk Radio UK

"With Coracle Emily Portman has produced a deeply moving collection of intricately woven folk-pop songs as lyrically dark as they are stunningly beautiful to listen to" Bright Young Folk 

"Emily Portman is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most magical contributors to the folk scene...Coracle is one of the easiest recommendations for serious folk fans that 2015 has to offer thus far." For Folk's Sake

"One of the best albums of 2015 for pointing to examples of modern roots done with vision and daring" Spiral Earth

"Intense and alluring" Fatea

A vivid tour de force of finely-crafted songs, Coracle is Emily Portman’s first entirely self-penned release that subtly spins together folk motifs with deeply personal reflections on motherhood and bereavement. Coracle shrugs off pigeon-holing and dances deftly between angular weird-folk and intricately-woven contemporary pop. Signaling an adventurous new direction for this critically celebrated singer, Emily treads fresh ground following the success of her BBC Folk award-winning release Hatchling.

With masterful production by the talented Andy Bell, Emily’s distinctive and unaffected voice rings out over atmospheric, intricately layered soundscapes. The Emily Portman Trio, including Lucy Farrell & Rachel Newton, provides a beguiling combination of harp, banjo, concertina, musical saw, strings and their three unique voices blend with sisterly precision. The trio are joined by a stellar cast of guest musicians including Bellowhead’s Sam Sweeney, pedal steel guitarist M G Boulter, classical percussionist Toby Kearney and the bass vocals of Neil McSweeney. Coracle’s title track features a string section made up of top UK folk players and was recorded live in a church with spine-tingling results.

The result is a vital album that crackles with creative energy. A stand-out release, Coracle reinforces Emily Portman’s blossoming reputation as a dazzlingly original talent and is sure to enchant fans, old and new.