Review | Laura Marling

by Little Miss B, 30th March 2010. All photography by Layla Smethurst for The Girls Are...

Laura Marling @ Barfly, Camden
23rd March 2010.

It is March. Perpetual precipitation has literally rained on our British parade for at least a month. Inclement conditions aside, it has just been plain freezing of late. Rugging up is a prerequisite for leaving the house, and summertime garb listlessly sits at the back of the wardrobe, impatient for the day when it can be freed from its wintry prison. You get my drift. The weather has been shit. We are all yearning for some heat yes?

Well, heat was exactly what met the keen beans who turned out in droves to see Laura Marling play last week. Horrifically packed, the Barfly's antiquated (and quite frankly, inadequate) air-conditioning system had experienced a timely meltdown, and as a result the venue resembled a nasty, scummy, sweaty oven. An oven in a household that considers microwave meals and frozen chips to be the height of sophistication. An untouched, grime-ridden monstrosity. A genuine health hazard. So devastating and unbearable was the atmosphere, this little wimp was forced into the downstairs bar to consume litres of gin (a cooling aid you know), only returning to the pit of hell when Miss Marling took to the stage. I know I can be one for hyperbole, but I kid you not, kiddies. People were fainting left, right and centre and at one point, sandwiched between a rotund gent and a tall man's armpit, I really thought I might die.

Fortuitous, then, that Laura Marling proved to be just as brilliant as expected. Strategically secreted at the very back of the venue (shortest escape route should the heat have caused an onlooker to spontaneously combust), I spent the majority of the gig on tip toes, leaning precariously to my right, vying for some eye space. At one stage, I had a drink accidentally tipped over me (it was being passed over my head, I am no aggressor). I have never been so hot in my life, yet all became forgotten and forgiven as soon as the diminutive headliner opened her mouth.

With her trademark awkward charm, she quipped her way through an intense and delicately melancholy set, her spell-binding voice managing to silence the restless crowd. Material from new album I Speak Because I Can presents an assured and commanding artist, enhanced tonight by Laura's precision and mastery of her material. Gone is the jangly, tinkering teen-folk that originally bewitched her legions of fans and in its stead we were treated to the ruminations of an elegant and intelligent songwriter, weaving classical imagery with frank and brutally honest observation. Despite abruptly ending 'Failure' when realising she was starting to make up the lyrics (cracking "well, you get the gist"), this was a flawless performance. Utterly unfazed by the heat, the proximity of the crowd and the sheer adoration leaking from every pore in that room, Laura Marling cemented her position as folk-darling once more.

 
www.lauramarling.com

Conversational | Lisa Mitchell

by Ashlea Maher, 19th March 2010...

Like any rose, Lisa Mitchell is a fragile and tender beauty. Her timid guitar and soft acoustic guitar licks weave together seamlessly to project interesting and beautiful folk arrangements that have seen her blossom as the next all-the-rage artist. Her escalation is interesting given her career was born out of the five-minute-fame reality television hype. The English-born Mitchell moved to Australia when she was three, and after growing up feasting on the likes of The Beatles and Cat Stevens, Mitchell relished her chance to shoot for popstar glory by entering Australian Idol. aged 14.

But it was evident once competition got serious that her folky songstress nature wasn't going to fit the contrived three-minute ballad mould that such competitions require. Mitchell has made her own way to stardom on the strength of her original work. Her first EP's (yes, Idol contestants can release EP's) One Said To The Other and Welcome To The Afternoon were graciously accepted in the UK, US and Australia, and she released her debut album Wonder in 2009.

Wonder is the result of high-profile collaborations in the UK and Australia, and was recorded while Mitchell was living in the UK from 2007. She played Glastonbury last year, just completed her first ever solo tour of the UK and was awarded the coveted $30,000 Australian Music Prize last week. not bad for someone who is only 19!

"People are very quick to claim you as their own. It's a bit of a tug-of-war at the moment between the UK and Australia, but it's good. I love both places". Mitchell is said to be growing up as one of the new breed of chick folk pop singers, comparable to the likes of Regina Spektor, Feist and Laura Marling. Looking back on conversations, live shows and meet-ups with Mitchell in recent months, it is obvious how much she is a star in the making, without any commercial marketing needed. 

"Song writing for me is usually trying to create something that will give me proof of hope, like a packed lunch for the future or something", Mitchell said during her recent UK tour. "I'm a chronic journal writer, so it's kind of like when I just can't write it down, when there has to be even more of a human element to it, whether my voice or the chords... I guess it's just like proof that I can move forward. Usually it's about losing or re-finding hope or happiness. Most of my songs are written around that cusp. I guess it's a survival mechanism for me".

After collaborating with producers Andy Barlow (Lamb) and Sacha Skarbek (Adele), Mitchell said she is happy to have broken the mould. "I feel a lot free-er with my music now" she explained. "Every time I work with someone I'm gonna pick up little habits that they do that I quite like, or just everything kind of influences somehow. I always write a lot by myself, but it was good for me doing co-writes. It's like exercise for the mind. You literally cannot get stuck in your own ways because you're constantly being refreshed the whole time".

Mitchell's debut album Wonder is out now, and single 'Oh Hark' is out on April 12.

http://www.myspace.com/lisalisamitchell

Introducing.... Minnie Birch

by Little Miss B, 4th Nov 2009...



Good golly miss Minnie, I am joyous about making this introduction. Not only do this band produce the sweetest ear-candy in the west, but they also happen to be ridiculously lovely and talented lady-folks.

Minnie Birch, from me to you.... It's like Christmas. But better.

Minnie Birch are Emily and Claire, a teacher and a librarian hailing from the Watford area. Vocalist and guitar wizard Emily describes the band as "influenced by lots of different artists; I think the best way to describe our music is as WhinyAcousticPop? Which doesn't sound great but is hopefully ok." Yes Em, you sound decidedly and wondrously 'ok'.

The ladies just recently celebrated their one year anniversary, having played their first ever gig at the Amber Rooms in Watford on 2nd November 2008. Since starting the band they have had many an adventure; almost being snowed in at a venue in February, a UK summer tour in 2009, a feature in Art and Things magazine, recording a Minnie album (7 tracks) at Broadfields Studio, supporting The Doors Alive at their sold out London show.... A veritable smorgasbord of activity.

Not content with being busy AND awesome humans, they also happen to be a bit good. They've been playing together for a long old time so have great chemistry onstage, and put on notoriously good live shows ("entertainment value often comes in the form of one of us falling off our high stool!") Sit yourself in a quiet room, or perhaps take an autumnal walk (along a river. Or canal. yes, someplace watery), put on the pod and have yourself a good listen: bittersweet lyrics, ethereal melodies, and Em's beautiful voice (reminiscent of an early Laura Marling, but cheekier) make for happy ears.

The ladies are currently gigging all over our fair land ("lots, to sell copies of the CD") and are also putting together a small music video - mostly of footage from the summer tour. You can order the CD and merch (badges in boxes and hand mirrors) from the Minnie myspace page, which also has video footage, tracks and photos.

Join in the Minnie love.

Review | Laura Marling & Friends...

Little Miss B, 23 August 2009...

Tues 11th August, Royal Festival Hall.

This was always going to be a curious evening. I purchased these tickets (yes, money changed hands) as giftage for my sister’s birthday, and whilst very much looking forward to seeing Miss Marling at Royal Festival Hall, I had no idea what to expect. First of all, going to a show and sitting down: I think the last time I did this I was aged six and being dragged to see Wet Wet Wet by my aunt and mother (both of whom have Floyd, Sabbath and Zeppelin in their music collections – shame on you and your Marti Pellow lust). Secondly, just how was tiny, fragile, elfin Laura going to fare playing such a huge venue? Lastly, and perhaps most pertinently, just who were these ‘friends’ and what would they all be doing? Having a chat and a beer? A rant about boys and a bitch about work?

Turns out, this was going to be a bit of a hippy love-in (fortuitous that I was accompanied by hippy mother and hippy sister). Laura would introduce each act on-stage for one song, interspersing these appearances with her own, predominantly new, material. I’m not going to pretend I love the idea of hippy love-in: this is largely an anathema to how I live my humourless Nazi lifestyle. Dry like a piece of old toast, that’s me. However…. This really was something special. In fact, I would be tempted to use the word incredible, had I not been forced to spend the entire second half dodging the heads of the amorous couple, gnawing at each other’s faces, sat directly in front of me. Time and a place, people (for goodness sake, I was sitting next to someone’s Dad: was awful, like flicking channels and accidentally coming across graphic love scene when watching TV with your Nan at Christmas).

Photo by crazybobbles. See more on flickr.

Of course, it goes without saying that Little Miss Marling was the star of the show, and not just because the evening was named in her favour. I refuse to say she seems to possess a newfound maturity as so many journalists insist on mentioning, because let’s be honest: she’s always been a wise head on young shoulders, yet her new material definitely showcases a more melancholic side to her song writing; a darker tone that really shone through in this cavernous venue (seeing her miniature porcelain frame on that vast stage, surrounded by oversized sofa’s, a million mic stands and a veritable smorgasbord of instrumentation, was haunting to say the least). In particular, new tracks Mama How Far I’ve Come and I Speak Because I Can were beautiful, whilst old favourites Ghosts and Alas, I Cannot Swim even managed to draw some life out of a rather staid and reserved audience.

‘Friends’ Alessi’s Ark, Brighton-based The Wilkommen Collective, Mumford and Sons, and Johnny Flynn, amongst others, were engaging. Yet whilst none of the other acts were, as Telegraph journo Jack Arnhold states ‘forgettable’, they did largely pale in comparison to Peggy Sue. Having experienced guitar troubles during their performance of The Sea The Sea, the threesome were invited back on-stage to play the song again as part of the encore. I’ve been a fan of these guys in the past, so I was thrilled to see them live and even with technical glitches, crikey moses, it was worth it. Heartbreaking vocals, incredible harmonies, beautiful song writing. Admittedly I do want to crawl into Katy Klaw’s throat and steal her voice whilst she’s not looking, but obsessive jealousy aside, Peggy Sue were phenomenal.

As much as I am reluctant to admit I enjoyed this hippy folk-fest, what with all the hand-holding and mutual admiration, I am forced to acknowledge that this was a rather lovely experience. If you ever have to opportunity to see any of these artists, go. If it could touch even the hardest of stone-cold hearts, imagine what it could to a normal human being….

Peggy Sue are due to play Brixton Academy on 3rd Oct. and Union Chapel on 4th Oct. Visit Myspace for more details.

http://www.myspace.com/peggywho

http://www.lauramarling.com/

www.myspace.com/lauramarling

To read other reviews by Little Miss B, click below:
Spinnerette
L*dyGarden