LAURA MARLING 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: If you ever questioned whether Laura Marling sits among the greatest songwriters of our time (or indeed any other), then this glistening, powerful, unapologetically wry and deeply mournful record - album number seven - will cast all doubts aside. It's not that 'Song For Our Daughter' is introducing us to any new sides of Marling. Nor does it present her as an artist starkly different from some peers. But it is a stunning display of creative craft and a crystalline vocal range, both of which can stop us dead in our tracks. Take 'Fortune', for example, a track that exposes - with brutal honesty - the way our lives can look perfect while actually deeply troubled and filled with sorrow. There's plenty for men to ponder over on the metaphorical story of 'Alexandra' and her many diamond conquests, while potshots at champagne socialism and branded wokeness truly resonate. Exceptional stuff, again. Buy it now.

Review: Characteristically stylish and cerebral here on her sixth album, Laura Marling has always seemed like an old head on young shoulders , writing songs rich in detail and emotional complexity. These songs are scripted as an exploration of femininity, and walk her usual balance between delicacy and fortitude, replete with hook and words that lodge themselves in the recesses of the consciousness. Part folk tradition, part Laurel Canyon songcraft, yet her mellifluous and effortlessly mature tones further marking her out as a uniquely potent proposition, and 'Semper Femina' is the sound of Marling firing on all cylinders in the tastefully understated manner that only she knows how.

Review: Always possessed of a maturity and poise somewhat beyond her years, Laura Marling has made five albums by the age of 25, and only seems to be further cementing her place as a classic artist with each; Slow Move arrives in the wake of a spell of living in LA, and although the Dylan-esque verses of 'Strange' betray a touch of Americanophilia, elsewhere this self-produced effort bears all the composure, confidence and intuitively insightful songwriting that are her hallmarks, with sparse instrumentation making a perfect backdrop for her raw meditations and compelling honesty. Another triumph for the indecently talented ingenue.