Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim (2008)

Well, back to the almost present day.  I have always loved singer-songwriters, especially women – and Laura is one of the best, not quite up with Joni and Buffy but certainly a contender, and of course, still young enough to go to the very top.  Her father (a baronet) introduced her to folk music – but she has moved a long way from that and into the realm of autobiographical writing (although the songs are poetic enough to present some doubt; some may be imagined).  I think she falls somewhere between Joni and Leonard Cohen in the intensity of her singing and guitar playing, though she doesn’t sound like anyone except Laura Marling.  She started in the band ‘Noah and the Whale’ but left after a short spell to go solo. This, her debut was nominated for the Mercury Prize but failed to win, which may be a blessing as most winners seem to disappear from view pretty quickly.  Her voice at times seems to hover above the music and is almost trance-like.  I love all the songs but maybe the best are ‘Ghosts’, ‘My Manic And Me’ and ‘Your Only Doll (Dora)’….she is rapidly becoming a firm favourite of mine and seems to get better with every release.