Sea Sew

Lisa Hannigan, best known for her work with Irish folk-rocker Damien Rice, presents a quirky solo debut In Sea Sew. Well orchestrated, the music is a blend of Irish folk and indie pop. Clever lyrics are supported by Hannigan's powerful, haunting vocals. The entire album has a lo-fi, handmade feel, right down to the patchwork cover art, which Hannigan and her mother stitched themselves. Hannigan described the album as "creaky," a nod to the understated production of the recordings that were completed in just a few weeks.

Stand out tracks include "I Don't Know," a charming and light look at the thoughts that go through someone's head when they meet a new flame; "Lille," an untraditional sea ballad that’s as delightful as it is haunting; and "Ocean and a Rock," one of the more up-tempo songs about thinking of a loved one when they're far away.

Credit to the combination of Hannigan's diverse vocal stylings and range, backed by strings, xylophone, Glockenspiel, horns, and piano, the music is complex without being complicated and lends itself to repeated listens.

• Album title: Sea Sew
• Artist: Lisa Hannigan
• Label: ATO Records
• Songs: (1) Ocean and a Rock (2) Venn Diagram (3) Sea Song (4) Splishy Splashy (5) I Don't Know (6) Keep It All (7) Courting Blues (8) Pistachio (9) Teeth (10) Lille