Laura Marling - "Semper Femina"

Laura Marling since 2008 has been dishing out some of my all time favorite folk albums.  She first got noticed from her debut, "Alas I Cannot Swim", which admittedly isn't my favorite of her work.  I did however love the sincerity of her lyrics and the bare bones song structure, which mixed with her heavenly voice gave us plenty of memorable moments.  Tracks like "You're No God", "Ghosts" and "Cross Your Fingers" were absolutely stunning, but overall I felt like Laura would only get better with time, and she did.  In 2010 Laura released that hard hitting "I Speak Because I Can", not only my favorite album of hers, but one of my favorite current folk albums.  Laura in the 2 years between albums became fierce beyond words, which she showed off with unbelievable folk songs like "Devil's Spoke" and "Darkness Descends".  Emotionally though, Laura didn't give up any ground, with her personality on full display in every track.  To be honest though, I didn't really expect to enjoy Laura's next album nearly as much.  And while her 2011 album "A Creature I Don't Know" certainly took me a few listens to fully appreciate, Laura continued here to show just how much of a huge force in folk she was becoming.  Her instrumentals that accompanied her were getting more stunning by the moment, and her almost bluesy vocals seemed to get better with age.  However, I honestly wasn't ready for what Laura was about to release.  In 2013 she released the massive, heavily world music influenced "Once I Was An Eagle".  Instrumentally, this was her heaviest and most diverse album, with an atmosphere so amazing I couldn't help but be absolutely floored.  If you're into folk music but like more challenging and less skeletal albums this is a must listen. On Laura's next album, "Short Movie", she did it again.  She may have eased up on the sheer epicness of her songs but put together a seriously sharp folk album, which once again was surprisingly diverse.  There were some upbeat and fiery performances such as "False Hope" and "Strange", while other tracks like the bluesy "Don't Let Me Bring You Down" had almost a White Stripes vibe.  Up until this point Laura's been pretty unstoppable.  The new singles that we've gotten as teaser tracks from this new album have been pretty damn amazing as well, Laura sounds bluesier and stronger than ever.  Let's not waste any more time discussing this new album.

(The track that originally sold me on Laura)

“Soothing” is a rather relaxing, slow paced start for Laura.  I love the entire bluesy tone to everything, mostly in that stellar bass work.  It’s a very smokey sound, something I really haven’t heard much from Laura.  Her vocal work here is absolutely fantastic, she’s come such a long way in the almost 10 years she’s been releasing albums.  On “Soothing” Laura almost has a sort of Regina Spektor thing going on.  I love just how subtle the instrumentals are throughout this one, with Laura’s vocals at almost whisper level throughout with nothing but serene beauty behind her.  The strings here give this one that same huge sound that her last albums shared.  Clearly though the big difference is Laura’s personality.  Here, she seems so much more fiery and forceful, as she states “I banish you with love, you can’t come in, you don’t live here anymore”.  There’s almost a little bit of a live feel to this one, almost like you’re watching Laura perform at some hip lounge somewhere.  “The Valley” is up next, and is honestly a little more in line with what I was expecting to hear from Laura.  The guitars are warm and Laura’s vocals are absolutely stunning.  While “Soothing” had tons of bluesy instrumentals, this is straight up folk, but I just love the breezy atmosphere here.  It’s absolutely blissful to be honest, and some of the strings that pop in between verses are wonderful.  Personally, I usually like Laura’s more fired up performances, but I’m just so overwhelmed by warmth on this one that I can’t help but love it.  This one almost has a mystic vibe to it, as Laura goes on about someone singing in the valley near where she lives.  It quickly becomes near tear jerking however, and while this track goes on for almost 6 minutes it sure doesn’t feel like it.  Up next however, Laura truly outdoes herself with the fantastic “Wild Fire”.  While a lot of these tunes here are on the slow side, Laura continues to be just so fantastic at making these huge atmospheric folk epics that it all works fine.  Lyrically, this is Laura at her most fiery and passionate.  Honestly, she comes off pretty badass, telling a new love interest to get his drug habit in check before he steps into her life, bringing up how interesting it would be to know how friends feel about the time they spend with you, as well as that fantastic line about someone who says “I Love You” only when nobody can see them.  Laura here is on fire, pun absolutely intended.  She’s become one hell of a songwriter, and this track is brilliant.  The bluesy elements are back for this one, to be honest I’m surprised how that’s continued to be a factor.  I’m not mad at all though, it honestly gives Laura a very hip sound, almost a sort of spoken word vibe.  It’s smooth and dreamy, and never once does it get boring.  

There aren't really a whole lot of tracks on here that I really have an issue with.  “Dont Pass Me By” though just doesn’t sound like a real Laura Marling track to me.  This one is just as slow paced, but the drum machine in the background just really doesn’t add up.  The guitars almost have a desert rock vibe to them which I’m totally into, and lyrically this is just as sharp,  but everything else passes me by (Once again, pun absolutely intended).  Laura’s performance here sadly isn’t as captivating as the last few tracks, even if all of the the elements that made them solid are all right here.  Between that annoying drum machine and a lackluster performance, add in that same smokey atmosphere, and sadly this track ends up being boring.  Thankfully Laura gets right back on track with the surprisingly funky sounding “Always This Way”.  Instrumentally, this is totally something new for Laura that ends up working really well, and lyrically she’s starting to get really deep.  I love the way this track creeps onward slowly, Laura’s become so much more than just another folk artist.  She’s gotten to the point where she’s seriously crafting fantastic songs. Laura’s vocals here show here really stepping out of her comfort zone, her performance is honestly so good it’s hypnotizing.  While the instrumentals remain on the quiet side, Laura’s performance is just so overpowering and commanding, it makes for quite the experience.  “Wild Once” up next goes back to a much more, stripped down sound reminiscent of some of her early work.  If you’re a big fan of her “Alas, I Cannot Swim” album, this is the track you’re going to want to check out pronto.  Lyrically, you can tel that Laura’s certainly getting more and more mature with age.  She sings about topics she's been bringing up for years, but this is a much more refined sounding tune.  Once again she almost has that hip, spoken word vibe going on again, but man can she ever roll with it.  Like I said earlier, I honestly like her more punchy material better usually, but man is this ever keeping my interest wonderfully.  

“Next Time” continues on with some of Laura’s more folkier material here.  This one though is a little bizarre for my liking.  The riff here is bouncy and to be honest I just don’t really think it compliments her vocals too well.  Instrumentally as the track goes on, it’s really not that pretty of a sight. Usually Laura’s instrumentals are very straightforward.  And don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with her branching out, but this one is just all over the place.  The folky riff is so bouncy, that it completely distracts me from her performance to be honest.  Thankfully, Laura’s such a solid performer that her delivery here saves this track from being a complete toss away.  Thankfully as far as lyrics go, Laura continues to bring her A game, and the strings that pop in for most of the track give this a nice elegant atmosphere.  Overall “Next Time” isn’t terrible, just unfocused as far as instrumentals go.  “Nouel” is up next, and thankfully instantly Laura draws me into this one.  This one is just the opposite of “Next Time” being VERY stripped back and straightforward, with Laura’s performance being the real star.  Once again, if you’re a fan of Laura’s early album’s this is one you’re certainly going to want to sink your teeth into.  Her vocals on this one are an absolutely treasure, with Laura delivering some of her most angelic bars here.  All around, “Nouel” is just a fantastic folk song.  Laura ends this pretty short album off with “Nothing Not Nearly”.  Surprisingly, Laura decides to leave us with one of her heavier tracks.  Not to say that this track is “heavy”, but there’s certainly a little extra kick here.  For the most part this album has been pretty straightforward, now all of a sudden this one has a fairly electric feel.  Laura pulls it off wonderfully though.  Once again, Laura finds herself going down this bluesy road but man does she ever pull it off wonderfully.  

Rating: 7.9/10

Give A Listen To: “The Valley”, “Wild Fire”, “Always This Way”, “Nothing Not Nearly”

Overall Thoughts:  Laura continues to be one of modern folk music's most gifted performers.  Personally, I enjoyed her last two album's a little bit more than this, but certainly not by much.  While "Semper Femina" doesn't have the same atmosphere or length as her last two records, Laura does deliver some of her most thought provoking lyrical performances yet by far.  Bringing up great points on friendship and romantic relationships, I was entertained for most of the album.  I liked the bluesy direction she went in as well as some of her much more stripped back old school folk tracks, so hell yes is this ever a good folk album.