"Doffing a cap to International Women’s Day, we then get a trio of Marling tracks baring female names, starting with her cozy new ode to the capriciousness of the fairer sex ‘Nouel’’ followed by ‘Daisy’ and ‘Sophia’, the latter featuring twelve string guitar work to send a shiver down the spine..."
Having recently
reviewed Laura Marling’s splendid new long player ‘Semper Femina’
I find myself in a unique position amongst the audience at tonight’s
brimming Leeds Academy for the opening date of the chanteuse’s
latest UK tour. Laura’s sixth release, not available in full until
the end of this week, means the first part of her fine set, drawing
heavily from this new material, is largely being heard by tonight’s
attendees for the very first time. I therefore feel privileged to
have enjoyed a sneak preview.
This evening’s
Academy stage comes liberally decorated with inviting floral
decorations, looking positively pastoral as each of the six new
‘Semper Femina’ tunes are greeted with warm applause. Laura,
flanked by a brace of backing singers, plus guitar, bass and drums,
promises some favourites…..’Soon’; presumably courtesy of the
novel online innovation ‘Set the Set’, fans allowed to submit
requests for each Marling gig.
The
crowd’s patience is rewarded after a stirring rendition of new
album closer ‘No Not Nearly’, suddenly Laura standing alone
singing ‘Night After Night’ and you can hear a pin drop as her
dulcet tones effortlessly fill the void. Doffing a cap to
International Women’s Day, we then get a trio of Marling tracks
baring female names, starting with her cozy new ode to the
capriciousness of the fairer sex ‘Nouel’’ followed by ‘Daisy’
and ‘Sophia’, the latter featuring twelve string guitar work to
send a shiver down the spine, and not for the first time tonight.
‘Don’t Ask Me Why’
and ‘Selinas’ are both glorious, containing a blend of
traditional and West Coast influences, before each band member shares
their personal Leeds story with the gathered masses; highlights
include studying at the University, having a wallet stolen and
experiencing their first panic attack!
The night ends with
‘Once’, ‘How Can I’ and ‘Darkness Descends’ and in the
spirit of Laura’s polite request regarding encores (or rather, the
fact she doesn’t ever do them) I will treat her final, final song
‘Rambling Man’ as the ‘encore’ instead….deal?
Laura Marling
Leeds 02 Academy
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