Laura Marling - Patterns In Repeat 
(Chrysalis/Partisan Records)
Release Date: Out Now
In times of turmoil and insanity, we all need people who we can turn to that can calm our souls and redress the balance in our worlds. I'm lucky to have a number of those people in my real life but in my musical life Laura Marling is at the top of that particular tree. So, although I'm a little late in sharing this new album, I think the timing is perfect for soothing the world right now so come, hold my hand and let's let 'Patterns In Repeat' do what Marling does best.
The album opens with 'Child Of Mine', a track that wonders in to Marling's life and takes a snapshot of giggling, idle strumming and that folky vocal that we've all come to know and love. 'Patterns' maintains the vibe but with more rippling strings underpinning that warm, dusky vocal and, well, I can feel the stress start to leave my body as I listen to the fingers dance over the fret board. By the time we reach 'Your Girl', any sense of the outside world should be far, far away and the child-like melodies play gently like your mum's fingers walking up your back making you laugh and sigh simultaneously.
There's a directness to 'No One's Going To Love You Like I Can' as the honky tonk piano melody drifts in on a summer's breeze to let the emotion lay out in front of you. 'The Shadows' has a Spanish flavour to the guitar melody before 'Interlude (Time Passages)' acts as aural a cleanser as performed by the Clangers. 'Caroline' has tones of Joni Mitchell in its simplicity and warmth while 'Looking Back' uses the warmth of strings to really comfort the listener in their lowest moments.
On 'Lullaby' Marling is breathily magical in her soft, sweet vocal delivery which is, of course, hugely appropriate but then title track 'Patterns In Repeat' is clearer, more strident and swelling with love. We then finish off with an instrumental reprise of 'Lullaby' which completes the therapeutic journey but makes me want to buy a cottage in Tuscany and go off grid. God bless you Laura Marling, you're a good egg and a bloody good songwriter to boot.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/lauramarling