If they are sincerely musically gifted as well, the phrase “striking gold” hits the nail on the head to describe how one might feel uncovering them. Sara Hallie Richardson has put together six tracks on her new EP, “Restless,” that have achieved just that. Richardson has done a tremendous job of incorporating her love of songwriting, experimenting with sounds electronically and using her voice to cast out a hook filled with straightforward lyrics and melodious soliloquy. The first track, “South Korea,” could almost be a dance number, but when you listen to the lyrics, you get the feeling that it was written from a somber spot. Maybe she uses South Korea as a metaphor, maybe not, but she is longing for something — something as far away as Korea, either in her mind and heart, or as a tangible place. “What Would It Be Like” emotes another feeling of longing, yet with an almost cheerful chorus. Richardson uses many interesting techniques, such as the layering of voices and the light application of the drum loops paired with her mastering of electronic resonance. By the time I got to the last track, “Oh, Rita,” I was smitten. There are many images conjured up through this song, as the listener stumbles upon the acoustic qualities in her songwriting with piano and guitar. It’s not hard to envision Richardson sipping wine with an elder matriarch who spills her secrets peppered with wise expressions: “Above all, don’t fear the difficult moments, the best comes from them.” “Restless” is a conglomerate of ambient, full and beautiful songs that take the listener on a sweet ride, especially with Richardson’s incredibly lovely soprano voice and clear, down-to-earth lyrics. -Kristin DiCara-McClellan, Portland Press Herald