Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle
Review by Perry Fish
One of my favorite things about listening to a new album is that brief silence between songs, building up the suspense of what each track is going to contribute. There is something so exciting about hearing those foreign tunes for the very first time.
Laura Marling’s latest release, Once I Was An Eagle, fails to captivate in this area. Known for her acoustic sound and extensive instrumentals, Marling is undoubtedly unique, but how much is too much?
The album starts out easily with “Take The Night Off,” a dreamy song built with raw sounds of guitar and piano. But things quickly go from good to downright confusing when you realize you are ten minutes into the album, thinking to yourself, “This must be the Route 20 of all songs,” then discovering you are actually three songs in!
The trickery of the continuous crossfading finally ends with “Master Hunter.” Maybe it is because it is the first unique track on the album, but I really love the upbeat composition of this song.
“Devil’s Resting Place” and “Undine” are notable tracks, showcasing Marling’s folk influences. The downside, these two tracks are divided by an ominous, completely out of character, interlude. Sounding like it came right out of a 1920’s silent film, this break is quite awkward.
The second half of the 16-track album is enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. “Saved These Words” ends the hour-long compilation with an unsurprising repeat of the opening instrumental.
You can always tell if a movie is just a little too slow-moving when you start thinking about how long it is. Albums are the same way. When it comes to this album, less would have been better.
Overall Rating: 2/5
Recommended Tracks: “Master Hunter” and “Undine”
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