Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

Laura Marling can do no wrong in my eyes. She’s right up my street. Pretty, smart, classy and with a beautiful voice. What’s not to like?

I speak because I can is testament to her ability as a singer songwriter. When she first came to light with songs such as New Romantic and My Manic and I, I wondered how she’d manage to produce another album worth of songs that were just as potent and deep. But somehow, she did.

You must have heard of Devils Spoke and unlike several other artists in the same genre as Laura Marling the rest of the album continues to be as strong as this first single. I’m not sure whether it’s the unusual timbre in her voice, or the way she manages to make a solo accompanying guitar sound like she’s surrounded by other guitarists or if it’s how very honest, and direct the lyrics are but you simply cannot ignore her. Even at this stage in her career she demands that you pay attention to her, and you cannot refuse.

Rambling Man and What He Wrote are currently my top two tracks from this album but I have a feeling this is one of those CD’s that you’ll listen to death, put away and then later at some random point in your life you’ll put on again and relate to two different songs with all the conviction you had the first time round.

Fans of Something Corporate should definitely give this a try.

JS