Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marlin

For many who have heard the album, I'm sadly going to tell you I doubt any of you will disagree with much of what I say, for those who haven't listened to it, thos most important part of this review is "The album is a BIG TIME GROWER" give it a few listens before throwing it out.

Laura Marling's debut album "Alas I Cannot swim" is an album I requested for christmas after having loved "Ghosts", which would ...
...until I came to write this review, "Cross Your Fingers/Crawled Out of the Sea" would also be released as a duel single, and "Night Terror" was released as the final single from the album.

The first time I realised she wasn't some olden days singer (because Colin Murray does play some rather random stuff) was when I found out THIS album was up for a mercury music award (Laura was beaten by Elbow and their album ... more

For many who have heard the album, I'm sadly going to tell you I doubt any of you will disagree with much of what I say, for those who haven't listened to it, thos most important part of this review is "The album is a BIG TIME GROWER" give it a few listens before throwing it out.

Laura Marling's debut album "Alas I Cannot swim" is an album I requested for christmas after having loved "Ghosts", which would be the debut single by Laura. Despite not knowing this until I came to write this review, "Cross Your Fingers/Crawled Out of the Sea" would also be released as a duel single, and "Night Terror" was released as the final single from the album.

The first time I realised she wasn't some olden days singer (because Colin Murray does play some rather random stuff) was when I found out THIS album was up for a mercury music award (Laura was beaten by Elbow and their album "The Seldom Seen Kid"), but this added publicity should help her show what she's really able to do.

The album the first 2 times I tried to listen to it managed to get to the third track before I wisely declared "She's a one trick pony, Ghosts is brilliant the rest seems to be pretty crap", but after finally sticking it on my phone and giving it a listen properly I've got to admit I've totally fallen in love with the album

The album opens with the wonderful song "Ghosts" (or "Ghosts (that broke my heart")) which is personally my favourite track from the album, and the song that got me into Miss Marling after it was played on Colin Murray's Radio 1 show. The song is high tempo'd catchy and yet simple folk, that paints brilliant pictures. Lyrically is't one of those smart but easy songs, vocally Luara is probably at her best in the track, and musically it's the most accessible on the CD. If your a fan of Folk you'll love it, if you like softer sounding pop you will like it, if you like metal...sod off and get a Maiden CD >_>.

Old Stone is second, now (as I said earlier) I had a listen to the first three songs (loving the opening track), before turning the CD off and calling it the crappiest album I'd heard in a long time. But the album, and this song, are real growers, I won't say I'm a fan of the track, but I sure don't dislike it as such, for the vast part it's the worst song on the album, but thats not meanign to say it's a crap song...just probably a 5 out of 10 sort of thing you know.

Tap at my window is the third track on the album, and when Laura first starts singing your thinking to yourself "This girl can't really be 18 can she?", the lyrical genius of a Buckley and the musical traits of a Nick Drake thrown in with some hurt romantic. If you shut your eyes and let that voice take you on a ride, like I seem to be doing regularly, this is one of the most deep rides the album has to offer. Though again not one of my favourites off the album, the song shows more glimpses of Laura's real talent, her vocal delivery.

Failure, is anything but, and it's one of the true highlights on the disk, lyrically it again starts seeming like something very special which with the simple guitar backing Marling just starts to again work wonders in our ears. When she gets to the hook your automatically smiling and again wondering quite what the girl will do with her potential.

You're no God, a fast pacey track which reminded me of Alanis Morisette for some reason (could be the word god if nothing else). The tempo has you tapping your toes, and although one of the worst vocally, as the music seems to do the leading through out the track still sits well with most of the album.

Cross you're fingers, one of the top 3 tracks, and one that makes me think of a Tom Baxter but female, sexy and fully using their talents (hey I'm a big Baxter fan i just feel he's more talented than we see). Vocally and lyrically this is it, Marling hitting the big time, amazing track, "Cross your fingers, Hold your toes, Were all gonna die when the building blows" is among my favourite lines from any song I've heard recently. If the album was full of this sort of total musical package we needn't be questioning the future as it'd be nailed on success.

Crawled out of the sea, even though it's a mid album interlude it's still brilliant, if lyrically a bit disappointing (2 lines are all it consists of) the music and vocal make up for it to make it one of the nicest interludes I've heard in a long time. If interludes must be done (Sufjan stevens take note) do them like this.

My Manic and I, is another one of my favourite tracks, vocally it's inspiring, lyrically it's one of the cleverest, musically it's simple but brilliant. Catchy hook, brilliantly performed, much like "Cross your fingers" this shows the girl has talent, it's upto her what she does with it, but hopefully unlike Matthew Jay and both Buckley's (who I've already compared her to) she won't lose it all to some untimely incident as she has the potential to put british folk back on the scene. The poignant touch of Nick Drake does her no harm at all, in a song that really puts her in such high company.

Night Terror, another one that blows me away vocally and lyrically, as if almost a trade mark, a simple folksy guitar backing is mostly all the accompainment that's needed, as the album keeps the high standard of the latter half. The hook is another where Marling's voice grabs you and takes you by the hand and leaves you with a jaw thats hit the floor.

The Captain and The Hourglass, despite how ever many times I've now heard this album, I can't really recall this track, even listening to it as I'm writing I cant remember hearing it, so I think it's fair to say this is the least out standing of the track. Thats again, not to say it's rubbish, because it's not, it probably harms the track more in that it's in the latter part of the album where the quality really does stay at such a high level that if the song isn't mind blowing it won't stand out.

Shine is the 11th track on the album, and lyrically it again seems to just hit the spot, vocally it kinda seems like Laura is often tryign to do it acapello near the start, and in fact the simple musical backing is stripped to the most very basic. The chorus is brilliantly done vocally, simply done lyrically and like I keep saying this is a girl who very well may have a nailed on mega future, just please god Laura stay the feck away from Miss Winehouse's idea of living.

Your only doll (Dora), is the last track on the listing, and like most of the latter part of the album the song is just so freaking brilliant, vocally as is often the case, Marling show's a frail side, yet you know from the ability she's showing, she has no need to feel frail. Lyrically it's again brilliant with some really smart lines and some effective metaphors, the most sexual of the songs (lyrically)...but lets not go there (mainly because all us guys listening are saying..."lucky guy" to who ever it's about).

The final track segues into the real last track, which is oddly what I'd call the title track (don't know if the hidden track is officially called "Alas I cannot Swim" but it'd seem the obvious title). The track has no reason for being hidden it's like many brilliant, poignant, vocally excellent, lyrically inspirational god damn it it's excellent. Really one of the best so why must we listen to 3 mins of bird tweets between "Dora" and this one?

Summary: Brilliant just give it a second and third chance 

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