UK folker Laura Marling returns with her sophomore effort
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
RockOSaurus Says:
Starlet of the UK’s resurging folk scene Laura Marling latest album shows much growth from the debut but it is shrouded in a whole lot darker light. Gone are the wistful whimsies pop songs of mercury award nominated debut and in its place are sullen downbeat tunes. This is not to be entirely unexpected given her recent love split with Noah & The Whale frontman Charlie Fink who wrote almost an entire album worth of breakup songs.
Looking beyond the darkness it tricky but the production values are greatly improved with plenty of dramatic addition of string instruments and floaty backings. The Devils Spoke is a feisty single which shines brightest with its subtle acoustics and swelling cello.
This is a complex richly textured album of many heartfelt emotional outpourings (see breakup song Blackberry Stone), leading to a rather alluring listen. But at the end of the day, without any real fireworks this album is best kept for those days when you feel no-one else feels as bad you do… because apparently they can!
Mr Flowers Says:
This is an album full of some beautifully-crafted songs, but I fear you probably need to have a more discerning ear for folk music then I have to fully appreciate it.
Devil’s Spoke is rollicking jam by folk standards which builds like a storm of ominous vocals with banjos and acoustic guitars, and Blackberry Stone has a great melody which really shows off Marling’s soulful and amazingly mature-sounding voice from the off, but as a whole the album is simply a bit short of stand out songs to truly mark it out.
RockOSaurus: 6.5/10
MrFlowers: 6/10
DoesItRock Overall Score: 6.25/10
Listen to Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can now on Spotify!
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