As per the title, ‘Emily Alone’ sees Emily Sprague drop the full band of previous albums and replace it with an insular and contemplative sound comprised of delicately layered vocals and acoustic guitar. Relying only on basic chord patterns lends a minimalist air that allows Sprague’s intimate vocals to hold attention. Sprague is at her most fragile when joined by piano on the elegiac ‘M’ which gives way to bright finger-picked arpeggios on the next track ‘Now’.

‘Emily Alone’ Is a masterful balancing act that allows the minimal musical accompaniment to fleetingly and seldomly take control only as words drift into silent pauses of reflection.