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Alas I Cannot Swim (Digipack)

Laura Marling

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Special Features

Play.com Review

When Laura Marling signed to Virgin Records at the age of seventeen an array of comparisons followed. Her age, precise diction, and quirky style led her to be typecast as just another pop starlet. But now with the release of her Mercury Prize nominated debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim it becomes clear the Brit-folk singer songwriter is anything but standard.

The opening track 'Ghosts', a spirited tale of lost love with a galloping guitar hook and subtle string arrangement, shows a strong comparison, at least by means of passion and heartfelt lyrics, to folk-rock legend Joni Mitchell. Much like Mitchell's style in early albums, Alas, I Cannot Swim centres primarily upon Marling's alluring voice and graceful acoustic guitar. With the 70s singer/songwriter vibe continuing to run throughout the album, Marling projects bohemian, earnest songs that recount stories, 'My Manic And I', adapt proverbial poems, 'Tap At My Window', and generate mass sing-alongs, 'Cross Your Fingers'. The shiver-inducing vocals that reside each track compliment the instrumental lines and delve deep into a manner of universal topics from religion and parents to love and romance. Subtlety remains very much the key as far the instrumental side of the album is concerned, with tracks such as the haunting 'Night Terror' and 'Your Only Doll (Dora)' demonstrating glorious shifts from solo and delicate acoustic passages to full-band sections and melancholy strings with great ease and strong effect.

Although deeply influenced by other great artists Laura never falls under the weight of her predecessors and totally holds her own with beautifully crafted songs. Pushing the boundaries of modern-day folk to the limits Alas, I Cannot Swim is a contemporary classic that with its timeless content and universal themes will be revisited and enjoyed for decades to come.

Track List

Ghosts
Old Stone
Tap At My Window
Failure
You're No God
Cross Your Fingers
(Interlude) Crawled Out Of The Sea
My Manic And I
Night Terror
The Captain And The Hourglass
Shine
Your Only Doll (Dora)

Customer Reviews

Average rating (7 reviews)

Write a review | See all reviews (7) »

Hauntingly brilliant!

spiritofjazz | 11/12/2008 | See all spiritofjazz's reviews (4) »

I read a review 12 months ago of Laura Marling's single "Night Terror", and as i was going through a folky stage in my music listening it ticked every box; the same day i downloaded it i got the free song "new romantic" which is not on the album-download it now! it is easily the most played song on my ipod!

Totally agree with all the reviews, Laura Marling is superb. Saw her at the Manchester Student Union Bar in November and she blew me away-her guitar skills, four piece band and her gorgeous yet eerie voice sends shivers down my spine! favourites-"new romantic", "night terrer", "my manic and i" and....the whole album is awesome! she deserved to win the mercury prize! simply cannot wait for the second!

Indescribable.

Aspiringyouth | 06/06/2008 | See all Aspiringyouth's reviews (1) »

'Alas I Cannot Swim' is a phenomonal album; along with the unbelievably talented Laura Marling. She's such an inspiration with her lyrics of literature. However, i wouldn't go as far as to say the Mystery Jets would be nowhere without her. The boys are uber talented aswell and have got this far off their own accord.

:)

MiJulie | 30/05/2008 | See all MiJulie's reviews (1) »

I'd heard of Laura Marling quite alot before, and she was often referred to as Kate Nash or the next Lily Allen, but she's very much unique.
Her music is so carm, and peaceful yet the lyrics make so much sense.
Such a brilliant album!
I think everyone in my house is getting sick of me playing it!
xxxx