Laura Marling

As written by Laura Marling – http://www.lauramarling.com/biodisco.php – 

‘Alas I Cannot Swim’ Laura’s debut album, is produced by Noah And The Whale mainman Charlie Fink, and besides its warm, sweet arrangements for guitar, trumpet, brushed drums and even a male choir, the album is infused with a real intimacy.

You’ll notice that this album doesn’t just appear in a ‘normal’ format – the music is part of a ‘Song Box’, designed by Laura, which contains postcards, trinkets and stories – plus a concert ticket to her shows in March. ‘The idea came of a conversation I had with a guy who owned the studio I was recording in,’ says Marling. ‘He said he was depressed with the way music’s going, because nobody buys records any more and people are listening to MP3s on bad headphones, using music for wallpaper.’ So, she designed the chart-ineligible, beautifully printed ‘Song Box’: ‘I want people to love music,’ she says, ‘I want people to treasure it, not just my songs, but treasure music

Laura Marling has undoubteldly one of the most beautiful voices currently producing music for the British charts. She has a subtle and smooth texture to her voice, whilst her lyrics often add a darker edge to many of her songs. Laura has released two albums to date, the most recent release; ‘I Speak Because I can’, and her debut album, ‘Alas I Cannot Swim’, whilst also releasing a further two EP’s, ‘My Manic And I’, and ‘The London Town EP’.

Laura Marling (born 1st February 1990) is a 20 year old English folk singer from Eversley, United Kingdom just outside of Reading. She began playing the guitar at the age of three, first being taught the blues by her father in front of the family fire, and has been enthralled by the songs and lyrics of the likes of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and John Mayall ever since. It’s not just the “golden-oldies” that Laura admires; she also harbours a rather deep love for alt.country’s favourite son, Ryan Adams. “He’s brilliant, there’s nothing that even comes close, he can paint the most amazing pictures in your mind.” Jamie T personally invited her on tour with him last year after being impressed by her modern folk-pop when he caught her playing just her second ever gig. Marling is part of the extended Way Out West family, having played five eminent shows at the label’s Brentford FC night before the club was finally moved on, and was also a member of Noah and the Whale until May 2008, contributing vocals and instruments throughout, and seen in the “Five Years Time” video playing recorder. Following her London Town EP, Marling’s debut album Alas I Cannot Swim was released by Virgin on 4th February 2008. Originally released in a large Song Box containing mementos and trinkets personal to the songs, as well as a concert ticket., the album was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize.Marling releases the follow-up, I Speak Because I Can on March 22nd 2010.

Submotion Orchestra – All Night

Spawned from the vibrant music scene in Leeds – where their weekly residency at Hukaz bar has become a staple Monday night haunt for the local populous – 7 piece outfit Submotion Orchestra have spent the duration of their first year taking away the breath of music lovers from the UK and abroad. Using both electronic and acoustic instruments with live mixing and effects from superstar dubstep producer/dj Ruckspin (who, with Quark, coined the original and much requested version of ʻSunshineʼ), Submo base their style around elements of dubstep, downtempo and soul music to create a warm, textured sound that leaves lead singer Ruby Wood ample space on which to float her haunting, smoky vocal lines.

The bulk of Submotionʼs material is written by drummer Tommy Evans (also of Gentlemanʼs Dub Club) and producer/live fx man Dom Howard aka Ruckspin. Smooth, sexy and beautifully arranged, the E.P explores the space and bass weight of dubstep whilst holding true to the soul/jazz background of the musicians. From the shimmering, melancholy Rhodes in Finest Hour to the muted trumpet licks in ʻSunshineʼ, Submotionʼs unique sound works as a full shiatsu massage for the eardrums, and will have the radio and club DJʼs mouths watering. Finest Hour gets the Planas treatment for the remix: a euphoric hands-in-the-air banger designed to take the dance floor to another level.

Submotion Orchestra has a busy summer in front of them, appearing at many of the major festivals across the UK and Europe. The band is currently working on their debut album, which will be hitting the shops in September. Watch this space!