I Speak Because I Can, Virgin *****

Detailing the challenges of “womanhood”, Laura Marling’s follow-up to her Mercury- nominated debut is a beast of an entirely different nature. Gone are the whimsical laments and love songs; in their place is a far more mature Marling (she’s dyed her hair from blonde to dark brown to prove it). While some tracks show the same English folk roots she displayed on

Alas I Cannot Swim

(see

Blackberry Stone

), songs such as

Alpha Shallows

have a Balkan folk influence, coupled with Marling’s sardonic – almost cynical – lyrics that explain how “my children will be born just to grow old”. It’s not the same girl we’ve heard before, it’s a new woman, with a new outlook, and a heavier, world- weary tone in her voice. Difficult second album? No, ma’am.. Like the proverbial wine, Marling just gets better with age. See lauramarling.com

Download tracks: Goodbye England, Covered in Snow, Hope in the Air