Laura Marling: Alas I Cannot Swim (Astralwerks)

Laura Marling: Alas I Cannot Swim (Astralwerks) – British coffeehouse folk artist 18 year old singer/songwriter Laura Marling has an alluringly husky voice and expressive phrasing style. She considers her primary influence to be Bonnie "Prince" Billy. With the aid of producer Charlie Fink (Noah And The Whale), the music ranges from sparse statements of her graceful acoustic guitar and subtle background textures to tasteful swells of full ensemble, horns, and strings. Overall, it’s an enjoyable folk-tinged AAA pop record that reveals its beauty on repeated listens. Recommended.