Davey's debut album, "Something Ilk", was recorded at a studio in Wales, produced by Ben Hillier whose previous credits included Blur and Elbow, and released in 2004. RTÉ reviewer Harry Guerin said it was "high on presence and very low on filler" and gave it three out of five stars. "Hot Press" remarked, "Not only is her voice elfin, immediate and distinct the songs are also hugely compelling. They are digestible without being lightweight, austere in places without seeming detached". The "Irish Independent"s Paul Byrne described it as "one of the best Irish albums of 2004". Davey performed a nationwide tour in September 2004. She also supported Graham Coxon and Supergrass during tours they undertook that year. The singer later dismissed "Something Ilk", saying "I think the record company Regal Recordings thought I was an indie rock chick when they signed me and that album is very much other people's idea of what I should sound like. [...] I didn't have the confidence to say no to some of the things Hillier suggested". Davey claimed not to "know my arse from my elbow when I signed for them" and did not like performing those songs in a live arena. Despite this, the "Irish Independent" described her as "very talented—far more so than " but regretted that she had "failed to find an audience for her fine debut "Something Ilk"".