...
bring.it.on

"this is very much my stepping stone"

i cannot even begin to explain how much i love laura marling's second album, 'i speak because i can'. randomly though, one of her most fascinating features must be that even though she never falters or disappoints (much to the contrary), you know as you listen to her that there is more to come.
it seems so simple. that's something else, isn't it? quiet confidence. very youthful yet timeless. i wouldn't call it a coming of age record, she's always sounded this focused. the message hasn't changed - this here is a reinforcement. i love how 'rambling man' starts with oh naive little me and goes on to let it always be known that i was who i am.

well i own this field, and i wrote this sky,

and i have no reason to reason with you.
- blackberry stone

there's so much more to say obviously. [hope in the air] absolutely blows me away.

and btw, because i find the album artwork and cd cover to be so fitting and beautiful : the girl who did the illustrations is called sophie milner and you can learn more about her [here].

ok. i'm a tiny bit wary of posting some more laura marling related stuff but really it's all i've been listening to. i'm feeling a bit restless and really drawn to her voice - it's got a timeless aspect to it that's really soothing. also this is pure genius :

[i speak because i can]

[laura marling + sons / jolene]

could these guys look any better, now that's something i'd like to discuss.

Laura Marling @ Splendour In The Grass Festival, Australia - 2008

[hello australia]

ghosts
blackberry stone
you're no god
rambling man
my manic & i
cross your fingers
crawled out of the sea
alas, i cannot swim

*

not the best quality but i love the way everybody seems to sing along. it makes me smile a lot so here you go. really neat.

[noah and the whale / mary]

[laura marling / mary + rocks and daggers]

*

but she said, shut your mouth, you don't know what you're talking about..

oooooh i can't wait.
laura marling's new album will be released in march (usa, early april) and a special cd/dvd edition is already available to pre-order - uk only. it includes a 45-minute documentary, live goodies (think johnny flynn, mumford + sons, andrew bird, peggy sue) and links to more laura marling-related awesomeness.

but for now, two new tracks recorded last winter in india :

[devil's spoke @ new delhi (12-09)]

[goodbye england (covered in snow) @ mumbai (12-09)]

laura marling @ npr world café / january 2009

intro
rambling man
interview
roll away your stone (mumford + sons)
interview
my manic & i
interview
your only doll (dora)

*

devil's spoke

(photo felicia murray)

laura marling / ghosts (live version)

laura marling / the captain and hourglass

*

because i posted about mumford + sons, johnny flynn, jay jay pistolet and couldn't possibly ignore laura marling - however predictable. seriously, these guys make for the coolest gang ever.

don't you love it when an artist actually lives up to the hype? you hear about someone again and again and when you finally decide to give them a try, you're still blown away.

[myspace]

i've been listening to laura marling's first album, 'alas i cannot swim', a lot over the last few days, it really is amazing. every song slowly builds up until it reaches that point when you can't do anything but listen. every song there stands on its own, every song a turning point. but there's more to come too : new album, 'i speak because i can', is due for release in march. possibly followed by another record end of the year? and i'm already so in love with the new songs. wow. anyway, enough talking! watch the videos and you'll see what i'm talking about :

[my manic & i]

[devil's spoke]

*

work this weekend was insane but entertaining. the ghostbusters definitely spiced it up. yes, i did say ghostbusters.