There are few things I enjoy more in a song than a singer’s accent shining through. The lilting tones of Dublin native Ailbhe Reddy are no exception; the perfect compliment to her thoughtful, expansive folk. New single The Tube builds on three years of Reddy’s meticulously lain foundations, including 2016’s Hollowed Out Sea EP and this year’s Attach To Memory follow-up. Throughout her career, Reddy has demonstrated a knack for purposeful, engaging songwriting, which, when coupled with her awe-inspiring voice, garners acclaim wherever she goes. This year, it seems she has been pretty much everywhere; from The Great Escape, to Glastonbury, Latitude and beyond. Her current tour culminates at London’s stunning St. Pancras Old Church this Thursday. Lyrically, The Tube is Reddy’s strongest offering yet. There is no daintiness here, rather, strength in the conscious directness of her wording. For a song about struggling to express yourself, the feeling The Tube articulates is pretty damn clear: with apparent ease, Reddy pins down that intangible rawness and authenticity to which so many folksters aspire. “Let me walk you to the tube,” she sings, “There’s nothing I can say to you.” There’s no metaphor here, just simple, relatable, stories about life and womanhood set to warm folk-rock.
