Track Listing

1. Ghosts
2. Old Stone
3. Tap at My Window
4. Failure
5. You're No God
6. Cross Your Fingers
7. Crawled out of the Sea (Interlude)
8. My Manic and I
9. Night Terror
10. Captain and the Hourglass
11. Shine
12. Your Only Doll (Dora)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113879 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Explicit Lyrics, Import

Album Description
2008 debut album from the young British Folk singer/songwriter who will appeal to fans of Kirsty Maccoll, Linda Thompson and Kate Nash. Although not legally old enough to buy a drink, this darling of the Art-Folk circuit has been selling out clubs and garnering critical acclaim. 12 tracks including the single 'Ghosts'. Virgin.

Amazon.co.uk
Reading-based songstress Laura Marling has been likened to veteran folksters Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully organic. Having started writing songs at the age of 15, Marling's success has been achieved not by shouting, but by whispering her way through the ranks. Perhaps because of her youth--she turned 18 just before releasing this Alas, I Cannot Swim--Marling has an understated yet accomplished manner that just doesn't grate like some of her peers. Plus her songs are good--very good. Backed by imaginative arrangements from leftfield acoustic outfit Noah and the Whale, the tracks here are often coyly charming, though far from naïve. Marling digs impressively deep into all kinds of universal topics, from religion and parents to love and romance. Lead single "Ghosts" introduced to many her soft, alluring vocal style, and other songs here share the same sense of intimacy, even if they differ thematically and musically. Things are kept simple throughout (think acoustic strums and a homespun delivery), but there are subtle and beautiful contrasts throughout; the Beirut-esque carnival aura of "Crawled out of the Sea" and the brooding "Night Terror", for example, which provide darker counterpoints to airier fare like the folksy title track and the compelling "My Manic & I". Disarming yet deep, provocative yet peaceful, Alas places Marling head and shoulders above the bawlers and wailers. --Paul Sullivan

Customer Reviews

Gentle yet stirring folk-pop debut from teenager rising star.
"Alas I Cannot Swim" is the debut album from one of Britain's most exciting new talents.
Twelve diverse tracks showcase Marling's versatile vocals and show little fear of leaving them exposed, while gentle acoustic guitar is the album's mainstay and folky string arrangements add new dimensions as songs develop. Released as a single, opening track "Ghosts" has already given listeners a taste of a confident record.
It's hard to believe that Laura Marling is a new artist who's just 18 years old - her voice is fresh and full of youthful vigour, yet it sounds as if it's been there for decades.
The Berkshire teenager is an untarnished musical treasure, and this is a debut informed by pop's past and fuelled by the nu folk present.
She composes startlingly mature lyrics reflecting on mortality - both "You're No God" and "My Manic And I" are stunningly simple explorations of the human condition, sung with crystal clarity yet warmly engaging.
The album is the culmination of what has been a prolific year of songwriting and creative maturity for Laura, from her debut EP, `"The London Town EP", released through Way Out West, to recent EP "My Manic & I", which saw her compared to a range of iconic female artists: Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey.
Warm folk arrangements of guitar, trumpets and brushed drums compliment songs that are beautifully measured, quirky but not overly so, smart but accessible - and all nodding towards a love of life with all its eccentricities.
Highlights are "Ghosts", "Night Terror", "Your Only Doll (Dora)" and the magnificent "Failure", a track that takes in everything from the futility of organised religion to fading fame. It's a lovely, special album.
With all the right influences not being worn on her musical sleeve, Laura Marling already sounds like the finished article.

A remarkably accomplished debut.
With all the noise about which one of Adele and Duffy may be the most bankable pop debutante of 2008, we may have overlooked an even more substantial and enduring prospect.
Recording with her live band, Laura has captured a primacy - never overstated - on a stunning debut which features 13 songs, showcasing Laura's fresh take on the folk idiom.
There is something about her voice which does recall Joni Mitchell - an ethereal wisdom, perhaps.
That voice is simple, honest, expressive and definitely more woman than girl, as is the subject matter of the songs. Weaned by her musically-inclined father on the best singer-songwriters of the 1960s.
Laura Marling writes, to some degree, in that vein, lightly weaving in elements of traditional folk as well. The musical armoury is tastefully organic - acoustic guitar, strings, xylophone, sparse percussion and even snippets of found sound.
"Alas I cannot Swim" is the debut album by 18 year old British rising star.
"Ghosts" is the albums opening enchanting track which is a dreamy acoustic folk love tale of young lovers haunted by the memory of lost love superbly written and performed with depth and strength ("these are the ghosts, the ghosts that broke my heart before I met you.."), the grief suffered ("...he says, I'm so lost, not well at all") and the refuge found in friendship ("we were just lovers crying on each other's shoulder").
The following "Old Stone", reflecting on the idea of being happily alone for as long as time will allow, is again a relationship based song that makes you want to lie back and close your eyes and just soak up the pleasure as the Laura's voice just washes over you.
"Tap At My Window" is the third track on the album, its sung with such power that you are just captivated by it. It begins with strummed chords but blossoms with violins and a growing intensity which suggests a real emotional voyage. It so good that not only do you have to stop what your doing, but you in fact wouldn't want to do anything apart from listen to this!
"Failure", a marvelously mature masterpiece which takes in everything from the futility of religion and fading passion to aching self-doubt, is a very poised and powerful track.
"Night Terror" is a modern folk song as wonderful as any dusty vinyl offering from the 1960s.
She creates melodies which avoid all the usual well-worn paths, yet still sound natural, not forced.
Take the song "Cross Your Fingers" - a breezy and brisk number which constantly takes the tune where you least expect it to go.
Her creamy voice canters over deft fingerpicked guitars and celtic violin throughout the rest of the album, and although the heights of the aforementioned song are barely hinted at elsewhere, Laura's promise - she's just 18 years old - is as clear as spring water.
No doubt, she is a fantastic singer/songwriter with a powerful and defined voice that puts her leagues above all the other artists in her genre. She has a very pure sound that separates her from recent break through female artists that makes you sit back and enjoy a very fabulous album that you listen to over and over again.
Made of Bricks
Little Dreamer
19
Rockferry

Needs to be Heard.
I'm surprised there aren't a slew of reviews for this album as it has been out for a while. I don't feel I need to spend a lot of time reviewing the album as the Amazon review(p. Sullivan) seems, for once to have got it about right.

In the UK this album got a bit more press coverage than it might as it got lumped in with the 'next Amy Winehouse/Lily Allen' group of young female singers (Duffy, Kate Nash etc)but differs from her immediate peers by being the best of them by a stretch. Her music, though, is not the sort that lends itself easily to world domination. It is, however, ridiculously mature in outlook and beautifully realised. The songs are so strong throughout this album it is hard to credit.

It is always tempting when a young artist bursts on to the scene to picture their potential as being as much of the appeal as the work itself in this case there is no need. I'm not saying she won't record even better albums in the future but if she only matches the quality of this one it will be enough.