Fresh out of the UK comes singer-songwriter Laura Marling with her debut Alas I Cannot Swim. Simultaneously moody and uplifting, Marling’s voice floats effortlessly through various ranges (impressive for a folk singer!). The lilting vocals over the string-coated sweetness of “Ghosts” provides a contrast to the melodic and prairie image-conjuring of “Tap At My Window”. With an album title like Alas I Cannot Swim, Marling seems to be connoting an ominous, pessimistic life-view, but each song seems to insinuate the very opposite. Each track is a proverbial wink from Ms. Marling, assuring us that in the end things really aren’t so bad.

Grab a copy of Alas I Cannot Swim.

Listen to “Tap At My Window” (4.9/5)

Listen to “Ghosts” (4.7/5)