Laura Marling "Short Movie" (2015)

Short Movie

release date: Mar. 23, 2015

format: digital (13 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]

producer: Laura Marling, Matt Ingram, Dan Cox

label: Virgin - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Warrior" - 2. "False Hope" (live) - 3. "I Feel Your Love" - 5. "Strange" - 6. "Don't Let Me Bring You Down" - 7. "Easy" - 8. "Gurdjieff's Daughter" (studio session) - 9. "Divine" - 12. "Short Movie"

5th studio album by Laura Marling follows two years after Once I Was an Eagle (May 2013), and it marks a strong stylistic turn. It's not that Marling has made an album in an entirely different genre or style, but the album may come as a bit of a surprise to those familiar with her most recent albums from 2011 and 2013 with focus on light and subtle instrumentation. Short Movie sees Marling embarking on a more outward and more electrified side of indie folk. There's still room for quiet and introspective songs but also a counter-balanced aggressiveness, which actually suits her singing voice and her other songs in a refreshing way. Not to compare with other artists, but some songs had me thinking of an energy I find in Martha Wainwright and also in PJ Harvey - again without comparing 'cause Marling makes all songs here sound exactly as her own, which they are, but she comes out as a more multi-facetted artist in the most positive way. Once again, Marling proves her worth as a songwriter and as vocalist and this new album, is my new preferred Laura Marling album.

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 7,4 / 10, The Guardian, NME, Spin, Exclaim! 4 / 5 Stars ]

Laura Marling "Once I Was an Eagle" (2013)

Once I Was an Eagle

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 ]

Laura Marling "A Creature I Don't Know" (2011)

A Creature I Don't Know
release date: Sep. 12, 2011
format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Ethan Johns
label: Virgin - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Muse" - 2. "I Was Just a Card" - 6. "Night After Night" (4 / 5) (live acoustic) - 7. "My Friends" - 8. "Rest in the Bed" - 9. "Sophia" (4 / 5)

3rd studio album by Laura Marling following I Speak Because I Can (Mar. 2010). I think, I like this one the most but it's hard to describe the big difference from her so far three studio albums. I guess, I like this better because she doesn't sound too much like wannabe Joni Mitchell folk singers and also because the music is really narrowed down to center around her vocal accompanied by guitar with scarce or hardly much other instrumentation, which just emphasizes her stories and fine vocal.
[ The Guardian, NME, Q Magazine, The Independent 4 / 5, Pitchfork 7,6 / 10 stars ]

Laura Marling "I Speak Because I Can" (2010)

I Speak Because I Can

release date: Mar. 22, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: Ethan Johns
label: Virgin - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Devil's Spoke" - 2. "Maid by Maid" - 3. "Rambling Man" - 6. "Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)" - 8. "What He Wrote" - 10. "I Speak Because I Can"

2nd studio album by Laura Marling. The style is unchanged, the quality of her songs are at an even higher standard, like she has matured as songwriter, although, I kind of feel that the album miss really great and memorable songs, like "Ghosts" and "Tap at My Window" from the debut.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo, NME 4 / 5, Pitchfork 8,1 / 10, The Guardian, The Times 5 / 5, Spin 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Laura Marling "Alas, I Cannot Swim" (2008)

Alas, I Cannot Swim [debut]

release date: Oct. 12, 2008
format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,44]
producer: Charlie Fink
label: Virgin - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Ghosts" (4 / 5) - 3. "Tap at My Window" (4,5 / 5) - 12. "Your Only Doll (Dora)"

Studio debut album by English folk, singer / songwriter Laura Marling. The album was nominated the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. Marling was formerly member of the indie, folk rock band Noah and the Whale but left to follow a solo career. All songs are written and composed by Marling, and the album was generally well-received. The music is quiet, simple, and sincere folk, and a few tracks are absolutely great whereas others are less interesting. However, Marling really shows her skills, both as story-teller, songwriter, and vocalist.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, The Guardian, The Times 4 / 5, 👍Pitchfork 6,8 / 10 stars ]

Laura Marling

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Laura Marling: (aka Laura Beatrice Marling, birth name) born Feb. 1, 1990, born in Eversley, Hampshire, Winchester County, UK. She was a member of the indie pop / rock band Noah and The Whale from 2006-2008. Apparently, she left the band after ending a relationship with front figure, lead vocalist, and songwriter of the band, Charlie Fink. Marling released her solo debut album in 2008, and her musical style is not he same as her former band. Laura plays folk singer / songwriter music in a traditional way with (strong) bonds to American female tradition of singer / songwriter.

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