Little Ms. Laura Marling

I think my heart leapt across to England and back when I heard the news:

LAURA MARLING HAS A NEW ALBUM COMING OUT ON MARCH 22nd, 2010.

It's new content, ladies. Sorry, let me correct that -- it is fantastic new content. I am frothing at the mouth in anticipation. It's rumoured that her sound has become far more complex, rich, and even has certain exotic elements blended in, too. Hmm, seems she's carving a new path for the folk rock genre and stretching her alt pop influences to their furthest limits and beyond.

Oh, too much excitement for one evening.

The new album's titled I Speak Because I Can and the tentative track listing is thus:

• Devil's Spoke
• Made By Maid
• Rambling Man
• Blackberry Stone
• Alpha Shallows
• Goodbye England
• Hope In The Air
• What He Wrote
• Darkness Descends
• I Speak Because I Can

If you wander over to Laura Marling's official website, you can find details on ordering information, concert listings, and other delightful bits of information about our sweet English rose.

Oh, but the presents don't end there.

First off, I'd like to introduce you to Ms. Marling's official first single from the new album titled "Devil's Spoke." Readers first introduced to Laura Marling via Tunes for Tuesdays will notice it's quite a large departure from the music on her first studio album, Alas, I Cannot Swim. Trust me, though -- it's dynamic and demonstrates quite clearly that this musician is far ahead of her time.

She's got such a new power behind her voice and an extra shot of confidence that wasn't quite there on her first album. Cripes -- I have to wait until the end of March to get my hands on these tracks?! I will need to find some sort of distraction to make it through until then...

Speaking of which....

Anyone hankering for a melancholic, season-appropriate tune by Ms. Marling herself? I promise, "Goodbye England" is breathtaking and I am so incredibly upset that it's not available on the Canadian version of iTunes right now. Curse you, geo-blocking. I will have to wait (and seethe) until March. *Dramatic sigh*

The message of the song is hitting close to home at the moment -- I just need to replace "England" with "Canada" and I think we can call it even:

..... And even greater news (well, for me, at least):

LAURA MARLING WILL BE PLAYING IN TORONTO ON FEBRUARY 9, 2010, AND I THINK THERE ARE STILL TICKETS AVAILABLE.

What news to kick off another weekend with.

If you need me, I'll be floating among the clouds for the rest of the night.

Tunes for Tuesdays: Laura Marling

Tunes for Tuesdays -- Bringing you music to get your heart broke to since, well.... right..now.

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Laura Marling is the absolute gem of the neo-folk movement. And yes, I am inventing the whole genre of neo-folk with that statement. She's the delicate, thoughtful singer-songwriter who knows how to wield a pop melody to her advantage. 

With her debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim (2008), the young Marling has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the British music scene.

Despite her melancholic and fragile demeanor, Laura Marling holds her own and creates a palpable strength through her clever lyrics and startling imagery. I like a woman who can turn a phrase -- and heck, when you add an eclectic mix of folk-steeped pop music, well that just rounds out the entire package now, doesn't it?

Oh, and did I mention she's got one of the most proper, adorable British accents possible? And yes, you can even hear it through to her singing voice.

For the October 20th Edition of Tunes for Tuesdays, I would like to turn your attention to one of Laura Marling's bittersweet, heartbreaking singles. Hailing from the My Manic and I EP, "New Romantic" is a track I could not stop listening to when my brother first pointed it out to me. It still amazes me that her vulnerability can seem so universal in this moment. And, really -- you need to be impressed by a girl whose first commercial single consists of her guitar and a compelling set of vocals ONLY. Sadly, I cannot embed the video here (as the option was disabled on YouTube). But please, do follow the link for a little shot of tragic, modern love, Marling-style. 

Still can't get enough of Ms. Marling? Well, check out Noah and the Whale (you might recognize the track, "5 Years Time" from... I believe it was a commercial for a vehicle of some kind) and listen to her guest appearance on the Mystery Jet's track, "Young Love." 

Regardless, she is a singer I've got my eye on.... in more ways than one, perhaps. 

I suggest you do the same.