One of the nice things about keeping this log is you rediscover, or even discover for the first time in some cases, albums in your collection that you had overlooked or forgotten. 7 or 8 years ago (actually around the time of this album release actually) I was lucky enough to see Laura Marling at a tiny festival at Stanmer House, Brighton. The festival I believe was a one off and was called Foxtrot. Hang on, I'll see if I can find any reference to it on the interweb...
Marling was already quite well known by then and was part of what I think was called the nu-folk movement in the UK at the time with the most prominent members being Mumford and Sons. M & S are a curious thing for some reason. They appeared just on the crest of the wave when that sort of fashion (beardy waistcoated Victorian/Peaky Blinder gentleman's wear) and music (fast foot stomping, literally with a bass drum in their case, acoustic strumming) was getting very popular. I heard a track - The Cave - and bought the debut album.
Fleet Foxes (although not British) were another band everyone loved then. At the Green Man Festival in 2011 their much anticipated headline set was underwhelming with some technical issues. Slightly less well known but also appearing at the same festival were Iron and Wine. More recently we have Bears Den. But then something happened. Mumford and Sons became really naff. Was this because they just got popular? Is it the image? Is it the affected folk/Irish style singing beloved of X-Factor contestants? Laura Marling was actually going out with Marcus Mumford too at the time and I imagine that record label they all belonged too was a cosey affair.
Anyway this album is a real grower. She is an excellent singer and guitar player employing some interesting tunings. Also the songs are just good and don't over employ those vocal gymnastics which she could no doubt use if she wanted (Joni Mitchell anyone?). Lots of good tracks of differing paces. My current favourite is Hope in the Air which pretty much showcases Marling's talent in a single track.
There were only about 400 tickets at the Foxtrot Festival and the artists were playing in the intimate rooms within Stanmer House, and a marquee in the grounds. On that day I also saw an unknown Anna Calvi just before she burst on to the scene - she was amazing. Dressed like one of Robert Palmer's models but playing guitar like Jimi Hendrix. Right place right time. Not quite the same as seeing Jimi cover Sgt. Pepper 3 days after it's release but a stroke of luck nonetheless.
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| Anna Calvi and the Robert Palmer Band |
I also highly recommend an artist called Rachael Dadd who played that day. Checkout this lovely video.
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| Rachael Dadd - low fi loveliness |
1. The Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me
2. Budgie - The Best Of
3. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
4. David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name
5. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
6. Bonobo - Animals
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