release date: May 27, 2013
format: digital (16 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,76]
producer: Ethan Johns
label: V2 - nationality: England, UK
4th studio album by Laura Marling following 1½ years after A Creature I Don't Know (Sep. 2011) is her third consecutive album with Ethan Johns as producer. The album appears as the continued deal from the predecessor by presenting an even more quiet and less orchestrated collection of songs, and it's also an album where the list of performing musicians is the so far most restricted as it only count Marling on vocals and guitar together with bassist Rex Horan, cellist Ruth de Tuberville, and Ethan Johns on drums. It's a 16 tracks record with a total running time exceeding 63 minutes, which means it was released on vinyl as a double lp.
Stylewise, it's dominated by accompanying strings, guitar, bass, and cello focusing on acoustic instrumentation. Together with the light arrangements it comes out as naked and with strong bonds to traditional folk. This kind of choice relies much on melody, lyrics, and vocal performance, and this is where Marling lives up to her potential and comes through with her best work to date. The album does rely on the listeners patience but given that, along with time and attention, it may unfold as a much rewarding experience. Despite her young age (23), imho, this is Marling's most mature collection of songs that some will probably find strongly introspective when comparing to songs on her previous albums. The apparent bonus is that Marling has matured as a songwriter, as a narrator, and as a musician, which makes this her so far best. In retrospect, I don't find this her absolute best, as I can't help thinking of Joni Mitchell as a strong influence, but of her first four albums, this is definitely her most coherent release and one to give more than one chance.
Recomended.
[ 👉allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👍The Guardian, Spin 4 / 5, 👉Pitchfork 8,1 / 10, NME 4,5 / 5 stars ]
