Laura Marling

Alas I Cannot Swim

Laura Marling is the antidote to 2008’s surge of Amy Winehouse clones (hello Duffy and Adele). If this year is a three horse race between them, Marling is in a paddock of her own. A Joni Mitchell in the making, there is a creeping and gentle darkness to her voice. Tracks such as ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Tap At My Window’ are heartfelt and wistful laments, carefully twinned with a knack for melody that belies her young age.