Rachel Zamstein released a phenomenal album called Bouquet in 2006, with some of the finest vocal work you’ll hear anywhere, and some really inventive songcraft.  Tracks like “This Gun” and “Orion” demonstrate that even 18 years ago, she was a fully developed artist.

So we’ve been eagerly anticipating a new album on the way under the name Shadow Work.

In the meantime, we just got a wonderful surprise in the form of this gorgeous EP The McEwan Sessions. It’s appetizer-sized, but it’s wildly impressive.

“Erased” and “Giving You Up” are beautifully tracked and engineered acoustic tracks, the former dark and brooding, the latter right at home on 90s adult contemporary radio. Both feature excellent guitar work and Zamstein’s rich, expressive vocal stylings.

But “Be My Own Lover” completely steals the show. This is a pop mega-hit waiting to be discovered, though perhaps the culture has moved beyond the ability to sit still long enough to see what a perfect piece of songwriting this is. The way Zamstein sings “running for cover” sends chills down our spine every time, and the chorus of this song will stick in your soul.