Following her highly acclaimed second EP, ‘My Manic & I’, Laura Marling will release her much anticipated debut album ‘Alas I Cannot Swim’ on 11th February.‘Alas I Cannot Swim’ is the culmination of what has been a prolific year of songwriting and creative maturity for Laura, from her debut EP, ‘The London Town EP’, released through Way Out West, to recent EP ‘My Manic & I’, which saw her compared to a range of iconic female artists; Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey.Recording with her live band, Laura has captured a primacy – never overstated – on a stunning debut which features 13 songs, showcasing Laura’s fresh take on the folk idiom. From the enchanting tale of young lovers haunted by the memory of lost love in forthcoming single Ghosts (“these are the ghosts, the ghosts that broke my heart before I met you..”), the grief suffered (“…he says, I’m so lost, not well at all”) and the refuge found in friendship (“we were just lovers crying on each other’s shoulder”); through more contemplative songs, such as Old Stone, reflecting on the idea of being happily alone for as long as time will allow, and Failure, a marvelously mature masterpiece which takes in everything from the futility of religion and fading passion to aching self-doubt. Elsewhere the album features live favourite, the country-tinged Captain and The Hour Glass; the rhythmic, driving You’re No God; the incredibly catchy dark nursery rhyme-like Cross Fingers (“…cross your fingers hold your toes, we’re all gonna die when the building blows…”), and the title track itself, ending the album on a longing, yet defiant note.‘Alas I Cannot Swim’ will be released in a limited one-off beautifully printed Song Box designed inside and out by Laura with her wood-cut artist collaborator Andrew Mockett, offering a keepsake for her fans in which to keep their music and other mementos. It will contain an invitation to redeem a concert ticket, a CD copy of the album, and mementos relating to each song on the album. The invitation will be printed with a unique code allowing the fan to register online at lauramarling.com to gain access to the nearest of five concerts which will take place in March:Song Box Gigs

• Tuesday 4th March – Glasgow, Oran Mor
• Wednesday 5th March – Birmingham, Glee Club
• Thursday 6th March – London, Union Chapel
• Friday 7th March – Bristol, Trinity Arts Centre
• Saturday 8th March – Manchester, Academy 2

Using Ticket Text’s innovative mobile technology, customers will receive their tickets as unique barcodes sent via text message straight to their mobile phone. Customers simply take their phone to the venue and the barcode will be scanned to gain them admittance. The package is likely to retail around £20, will be available to pre-order through lauramarling.com and will be chart ineligible.

Laura Marling is a young small town girl. She began playing the guitar at the age of five, first being taught the blues by her father in front of the family fire, and has been in thrall to the songs and lyrics of the likes of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Judde Sille and Joni Mitchell ever since. It’s not just the “golden-oldies” that Laura admires; contemporary artists such as Vetiver, Bonnie Prince Billy, The Microphones and Diane Cluck rank highly in her current listening favourites. She has recently her first national UK tour as well as some support dates with Devendra Banhart in the UK and Europe. She will play her first US gigs in January, in New York and Brooklyn.Laura Marling

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