*Laura Marling/Johnny Flynn/Mumford & Sons @ Union Chapel, London (Live)

Union Chapel is by far, as specialist gig venues go, one of the most beautiful places around. I mean yes you are sitting in pews, and there is no alcohol allowed in those pews but that kind of enhances things. Instead of drunk people, you have nice quiet people, and for nice quiet music it's very fitting.


Mumford and Sons were up first, definitely one of the most exciting unsigned bands in London at the moment. We’re already big fans, Marcus has a truly beautiful voice, the other boys in the band manage to harmonize with him flawlessly and the way Winston plays the banjo with that signature swaying/humping motion is always...captivating. In short, they are charming, very British, and provide you with a healthy dose of heartbreak and hope.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/92g6s2 - White Blank Page
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ipn4sl - Roll Away Your Stone
http://www.sendspace.com/file/8wyqmr - Feel The Tide Turning

Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit were second, energetically mixing anti-folk with country, again embracing beautiful harmonies - especially between Johnny and his sister Lilly. Their vocals particularly stood out when their instruments stopped and they sang a three part harmony acapella, a pretty brave choice, it only showed the strength of their pipes.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/faimd9 - The Box

Laura Marling was of course, the headlining act who everyone was there to see. With the recent release of her debut, 'Alas, I Cannot Swim' people were excited in that way that fans of new artists always are. She played almost the whole record (apart from two of our favourite songs; 'Failure' and 'Captain & The Hourglass' but we'll forgive her). She has chosen to add a string section for the gig which always manages to enhance the dramatic qualities of songs. Laura's voice blended beautifully with Marcus, and while at first talking to the audience seemed like a bit of a challenge she warmed and became more confident as the show went on. One of the most charming things about the evening? She encored with Kimya Dawson cover of ‘Be Mine’, clearly known by the band but not necessarily practiced, the whole band collapsed into laughter at the end of the song. It's always good to know people don't take themselves too seriously...

*Update

Hey Kids,
coming up for you lovely people by the end of the week:

*Northern State Interview (it's taking a minute and a half, one can only type so much between going to shows but it will be here by the weekend)

*Uh Huh Her Live Review

*Tegan and Sara Tour Diary with.. fabulous merch give aways (get excited, we have GOODIES think tees, hoodies, cds...)

*Laura Marling @ Union Chapel Live Review

We know what you're thinking, it's like Christmas/whatever holiday you celebrate come early. Stop, you're making us blush.

xo

*Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim (Album)

Laura Marling has been honing her craft for a while, even though she hasn't yet reached 18 (she's 17). She often says she can't stand to play her earlier songs because they were written in somewhat silly 'teenage folly'. But her debut album, one of my most anticipated of 2008, is written and performed with a remarkable maturity.



Offered in both regular CD form and the impressive 'songbox' (more expensive but comes with beautiful artwork, postcards, wrapping paper, a game, fold out paper patterns and more - truly magic) it is one of the most creative ways to release a record if you're steering clear of the Radiohead route.

I'm avoiding talking about tracks; 'Ghosts' 'Night Terror' and 'My Manic & I' purely because we have already gone in to them when reviewing her EP, but the album, oh the album!

The album is one of subtle diversity, intense lyrical content and beautiful melodies. It delivers both darkness and boldness in equal measures. She invokes a Bob Dylan esque spirit on 'Tap At My Window', a song that like many of hers, appears sweet on the surface until you pay closer attention and realize they are some pretty dark undertones, her songs rarely ending on a cheerful note. With other singers this could get old, but there is something so convincing about Marling.
Maybe because she makes no apologies for the more solemn side of her personality or maybe because she has revealed fairly few details about herself, either way it makes a stunning debut. Songs like, 'Failure' reveal empathy for someone whose path has not gone quite the way it should have, "He used to be a singer in a rock 'n' roll band, he would write the songs and I'd tremble at his hand" and later in the song, "just be glad you'll smile again, because so many don't".

On, 'You're No God' she picks up the pace with a freight train rhythm, 'Cross Fingers' sees her voice take a more wistful direction, becoming softer and yet equally as poignant. 'Crawl Out Of The Sea' takes on a lovers ballad of times past, while 'Captain & The Hourglass' retains a truly haunted-at-sea quality, "My friends, they don't really get me, think i'm the only one. Well I sold my soul to Jesus and since then I've had no fun."

There is something to treasure with each song on this album, its clear Marling endless questions surrounding religion, love, devotion, tolerance and maybe just life in general. She may not get the answers to her questions but she should deservedly have packed out rooms when she decides to ask these lyrical questions in front of an audience.

8½/10

*Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim (IN STORE)

Hey folks,

to celebrate the release of her debut album, "Alas, I Cannot Swim" (Which we HIGHLY recommend) Laura Marling will be playing a couple exclusive live sets in record stores:

Live set @ Piccadilly Records, Manchester - 53 Oldham Street (5pm, Wed 13th Feb)

Live set @ Rough Trade, London - Talbot Road (6pm, Mon 4th Feb)

If you're going along, which I highly suggest you do - she is quite magical, then we will see you at the Manchester one.

Glucky x

*Laura Marling - Album release, tour and tickets

Along with Adele, 2008 is going to be Laura Marling's year.. and deservedly so.



The Song Box is coming…

­There's now less than a month until the release of the Song Box, featuring Laura's debut album 'Alas I Cannot Swim.'

The Song Box (designed by Laura with artwork by Andrew Mockett) will be released on February 4th. It contains…

* The album 'Alas I Cannot Swim' (CD)
* A concert ticket
* Special mementos and artwork relating to each of the 12 songs on the album


The concert ticket will be printed with a code which you can register at lauramarling.com and specify which gig you would like to attend. You will then be sent a unique barcode to your mobile phone via text message which can be used to gain access to the Song Box Tour date of your choice in March.

This will be the only way you can gain access to these gigs - tickets will not be available to buy separately.

There are only a limited number of Song Boxes available. You can order yours from amazon.co.uk or play.co.uk

Alas I Cannot swim Digi/C.D Album will be available to buy in shops and online from February 11th.

In the meantime, the new single 'Ghosts' will be available on CD from January 28­th. Or you can download now from itunes...

We recommend this single, it's completely beautiful:

"Presents her with the pictures and says, these are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you, these are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you. He opened up his little heart, unlocked the lock that kept it dark and read a written warning saying, i'm still mourning; over ghosts, over ghosts, over ghosts, over ghosts that broke my heart before I met you. Lover please do not, fall to your knees it's not, like I believe in ever-lasting love."

*Laura Marling - My Manic and I EP

Laura Marling - My Manic and I EP (Virgin Records)

Only in her late teens, Laura Marling might be expected to merely sing about the trials and tribulations of youth, but on her new ep "My Manic and I" she demonstrates a wisdom far beyond her years harping through relationships, love, life and betrayal. Sometimes conversational, at other times haunting, her voice is always captivating and one that cannot be ignored. All four tracks on the ep are strong, "New Romantic" is a crowd favourite with strumming acoustic guitars, "Typical" a soothing ballad that shows her biting honesty; 'I'll keep on going i've got nothing to lose, I gave up morals when I took up you' while "Night terror" and "My Manic and I" float to the darker side of her songwriting. So for Marling, age really is nothing but a number and it seems she can only get better from here.

9/10