A Creature I Don't Know

Laura Marling | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ribbon Records
• ASIN: B005DZMNZW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,745 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

A Creature I Don't Know is Laura Marling's third album. Since her emergence from the London folk scene in 2007 Laura continues to be one of the most exciting musical talents of her generation. A Creature I Don't Know is a boldly accomplished and endlessly impressive album. Ten songs of intricate and captivating story telling, buoyed by Marling's rich voice, evocative lyrics and the precise, confident playing on every track. Her delivery is pitch perfect, her voice going from delicate whisper to brooding murmur and rousing wail, sometimes all in the very same sentence.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Laura Marling - A ferocious talent produces more classic songwriting September 13, 2011

By Red on Black TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

The forward march of Laura Marling continues unabated and seems unstoppable. Her last album "I speak because I can" landed as a fully formed and assured work where comparisons to great singer songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian and Laura Nyro were not only possible but also entirely appropriate. On "A Creature I don't know" her third album (and remember she is only 21) she produces an album full of different colours and moods ranging from jazzy hoedowns', to Spanish inflected acoustics and in "the Beast" a uber powerful electronic lament which P J Harvey would have been proud to write. Marling also develops the trend found in "I speak" to a much braver confessional style of lyrics and lays her heart bare in a number of the songs, with broken romance the central theme. All these factors add up to a heady mix and it is hardly surprising that her forthcoming "Cathedral" tour is the hottest ticket in town.

The album starts by Marling's standards in a musical mood of frivolity with "The Muse" and "I was just a card". The first is a jazzy whirl of banjo's and cello's where Marling warns "Don't you be scared of me/I'm nothing but the beast/And I'll call on you when I need to feast." The second takes as its template the sort of melodic pop balladry of vintage Joni Mitchell circa "Court and Spark". It has enough that is distinctive to set it aside from mere reverence and it is a sparkling start. Things slow perceptibly in the next track "Don't ask me why" which would have happily fitted on "I Speak" and the powerful John Steinbeck inspired "Salinas" where you detect that Marling has become a more polished and sultry singer with the passage of time. As stated above "the Beast" is a real point of departure. A pensive start leads to angry chords and lyrics which act as a counterpoint to the opener "The Muse" where Marling bitterly regrets "Where did our love go, you will never know/ How did you get home, you will never know". This is underpinned by a huge menacing electric backdrop and thunderous conclusion. Its angry denunciation may mark her best song to date and shows that along with Joni Mitchell the New York rock poet Patti Smith may be a new source of inspiration. It is therefore some relief to be followed by the stunningly beautiful and gentile "Night after Night" a sort of Leonard Cohen style love confessional and in its own way an equal highlight. The song "My friends" alternatively has those Jose Gonzalez rolling guitar runs but to these ears is possibly the track on the album that may require most listening effort.

The final three songs however seal the deal. The wistful "Rest in best" builds in a powerful surge with Marling accompanied by angelic backing vocals. The single "Sophia" shows her bold confidence with an almost spoken introduction where she almost taunts a former love (Marcus Mumford?) that "Where I've been lately is no concern of yours/ whose been touching my skin/who have I been letting/shy and tired-eyed am I today". It is brilliant and bold and deserves to be heaped with accolades as it stretches out at 3 minutes to a huge acoustic monster. Finally the album ends with the exuberant "All my rage" which shows that Marling is still great friends with Johnny Flynn on a song that has a joyous Sussex Wit folk quality underpinning.

Marling is often described a fierce talent and on "A Creature I don't know" which is her third album in three years and masterly produced by Ethan Johns she fully confirms that her incredible maturity as a singer songwriter goes well beyond the moment of a "nu folk" flash in the pan. She has emerged as our finest young writer and on the evidence of this new album currently can do no wrong.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another beautiful release by Marling November 9, 2011

By Leah

Format:Audio CD

Since folk musician Laura Marling released her critically acclaimed debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim, in the spring of 2008, she has steadily been rising in popularity with her thoughtful songs of lost love, religion, and death. Her second album, I Speak Because I Can, followed in 2010 and also received high praise--both albums were nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize. This week, the fair-skinned, blonde-haired waif released her highly anticipated third album, A Creature I Don't Know.

The English songstress, who prefers Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters to modern pop culture, reflects such tastes in her songs; her lyrics are quite literary in style and manage to avoid both cliché and pretension. One can easily see Marling's reported enjoyment of books such as Wuthering Heights reflected in her music; as the book explores the dark side of love, so do Marling's songs often evoke a wariness of romantic love. Even her new song "Rest In The Bed," which includes lyrics such as "all I want in life is to hold your hand," cannot manage to convince the listener that devoting your life to someone is a wonderful thing. The song's dark, heavy tone and scattered references to shadows and sirens detract from the seemingly romantic lyrics; it's as if all ideas of such happiness are doomed. It's quite a beautiful song, with Marling's clear voice accompanied by her signature soft acoustic plucking.

The album opens with "The Muse," an up-tempo number that is a surprising departure from the primarily acoustic and often melancholy songs typical of Marling's first two albums. Her songs are often rich and dramatic, but this is jazzy, piano-driven piece is the first one to bridge the gap to become theatrical. True to her style, the lyrics of this piece are more abstract and metaphorical than literal and personal, with lyrics alluding to rouged lips and beasts.
One of the album's standout songs is "Don't Ask Me Why." In typical Marling style, she exhibits a wisdom beyond hear years, singing in her warm voice "I don't ask for love and I don't beg for money / I'm just asking for grace and forgiveness now, honey." As with many of her ballads, she is accompanied by acoustic guitar and a single cello.

Marling's songwriting has not changed significantly since her last album--one could argue there's hardly room for much maturation; at 21 (heck, even at 18) she seems wise beyond her years--but A Creature I Don't Know demonstrates some experimentation and broadening of her style. Whereas most of the songs on her first two albums fit easily into the pop/folk genre, this new album incorporates some unexpected influences. As already mentioned, "The Muse" features jazz/swing influences. "I Was Just A Card" evokes 1970s soul with its soft horns and lilting lyrics about being "caught up in the stars / looking down to Mars." Although "Sophia" begins in Marling's typical soft style, her fingers seeming almost hesitant on the strings of her guitar, it builds into a country-tinged romp midway through.

Marling's voice soars beautifully on "Sophia," the album's single and one of its most impressive songs. One of the lengthier songs on the album, it seems to reference her breakup from Marcus Mumford (of Mumford & Sons), who may have been unfaithful to her. In the beginning lines of the song, she carefully states "where I've been lately is no concern of yours / who's been touching my skin," as if to say she's moved on, yet she's "wounded by the dust." (Can anyone make the word `wounded' sound as beautiful as Marling, soaringly, does?)

A Creature I Don't Know is a solid step for Marling. It brings new musical elements to the table but continues on in Marling's lyrical tradition, building on the themes she has always found fascinating. The young Brit is a stunning musician and songwriter whose unique talent is a joy to witness.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazzy, gorgeous, and full of variety September 13, 2011

By Jeff

Format:MP3 Music

Laura Marling has always been known for her old soul, but A Creature I Don't Know is what I'd call her first truly mature album. Her debut was fantastic if slightly top-heavy, her second album was a bit too bleak for my taste, but now on her third I feel like she's finally found her sweet spot. The opening songs are some of her jazziest and most upbeat yet, but they don't forgo any of the delicate beauty that is her trademark, and her lyrics are just as compelling as always. I feel like this album is simultaneously her most consistent and most varied - the growling guitars of "The Beast" are a huge departure, but it doesn't come at the expense of her trademark folk. Highly recommended.