I Speak Because I Can
When it comes to posting about music, I could be accused of repetitiveness, but never of disloyalty.
Thus, in typical form, this post celebrates the release of Laura Marling's second LP, I Speak Because I Can, already out in the UK and Australia, and to be released in North America on April 6.
I Speak Because I Can has been receiving rave reviews from the Times, NME, the Telegraph, the Independent, Drowned in Sound, the BBC ... well, you get the idea. To save you the trouble of clicking and reading, I'll sum up these reviews for you: "If LM's first album, Alas I Cannot Swim, was precocious, thoughtful folk-pop from a young Joni Mitchell, I Speak Because I Can is darker, more fully orchestrated, and shows LM's vocal range and continuing promise as a songwriter."
My love affair with Ms. Marling's music makes it difficult to chose my favorite songs on the new album, so I will instead try to share tracks that give an idea of the album as a whole.
"Alpha Shallows" was originally released as a demo on the "Night Terror" single, and its evolution from that EP shows the darker intensity of the new album. The swelling background vocals and instrumentation of a hodgepodge of Mumford familiars and other British folkies as she sings, "and we are basic lies," gives me shivers. This is one of the songs I was least familiar with before hearing the album, and it's quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. Here's the album version:
In this live version of "Made a Maid," Ms. Marling recounts the song's origins in a old folk tale she was once told. Themes of growing up, womanhood, and LM's haunting voice.
The album closer, and its namesake, "I Speak Because I Can", showcases Ms. Marling's storytelling chops and vocal versatility through a reimagining of the story of Penelope and Odysseus. Here's a fabulous live version from Ms. Marling's Australia tour, featuring Marcus Mumford, Pete Roe, Ruth de Turberville, and Tim Hart from Aussie band Boy & Bear on her backing band.
You can stream the entire album from the Times, here.
Thus, in typical form, this post celebrates the release of Laura Marling's second LP, I Speak Because I Can, already out in the UK and Australia, and to be released in North America on April 6.
I Speak Because I Can has been receiving rave reviews from the Times, NME, the Telegraph, the Independent, Drowned in Sound, the BBC ... well, you get the idea. To save you the trouble of clicking and reading, I'll sum up these reviews for you: "If LM's first album, Alas I Cannot Swim, was precocious, thoughtful folk-pop from a young Joni Mitchell, I Speak Because I Can is darker, more fully orchestrated, and shows LM's vocal range and continuing promise as a songwriter."
My love affair with Ms. Marling's music makes it difficult to chose my favorite songs on the new album, so I will instead try to share tracks that give an idea of the album as a whole.
"Alpha Shallows" was originally released as a demo on the "Night Terror" single, and its evolution from that EP shows the darker intensity of the new album. The swelling background vocals and instrumentation of a hodgepodge of Mumford familiars and other British folkies as she sings, "and we are basic lies," gives me shivers. This is one of the songs I was least familiar with before hearing the album, and it's quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. Here's the album version:
Click to viewIn this live version of "Made a Maid," Ms. Marling recounts the song's origins in a old folk tale she was once told. Themes of growing up, womanhood, and LM's haunting voice.
The album closer, and its namesake, "I Speak Because I Can", showcases Ms. Marling's storytelling chops and vocal versatility through a reimagining of the story of Penelope and Odysseus. Here's a fabulous live version from Ms. Marling's Australia tour, featuring Marcus Mumford, Pete Roe, Ruth de Turberville, and Tim Hart from Aussie band Boy & Bear on her backing band.
You can stream the entire album from the Times, here.