The opportunity to listen to one of my favourite performers in a 200 capacity venue made this one of my most anticipated gigs to date. My last experience of Laura Marling's genius was in the lavish concert hall of The Lowry in Salford. As Laura remarked, the tiny Trades Club in Yorkshire had an amazingly laid back vibe. She'd explained previously: 'people think I look odd on-stage. But the way I deal with being incredibly nervous is by concentrating really hard.' Here though, she seemed at ease, and even a couple of false starts felt spontaneously natural. The greatest gain from the intimacy of the club venue was being able to closely observe her expressions. Her eyes in particular portrayed deep emotion, and at times she seemed close to tears.
Tickets to this show, marking Independent Venue Week, were allocated by lottery, and through her fans' mailing list; everyone present seemed aware how privileged we were. There was a remarkable hushed tension: an air of rapt attention, with not a sound from the audience. Laura remarked on the 'seductive' local Yorkshire accents, and seemed relieved to be in this picturesque part of England after two years in LA. Yet that time in America has influenced her upcoming album, from the opening False Hope, a reaction to Hurricane Sandy, to Easy which was inspired by high times in Joshua Tree. But the catalyst for a new, more driven rock sound on songs like Gurdijeff's Daughter was her father's gift of a cherry red Gibson 335 electric guitar. The powerful title track Short Movie closed the set; some have heard the influence of Velvet Underground, though I think that the observation of a parallel with Kat Power is particularly perceptive.
Much of the anticipation for this show arose from the chance to hear songs from her fifth album for the first time in the UK. This milestone is a remarkable achievement at the age of 24, especially when three of its predecessors achieved Mercury Prize nominations. I detected a new intensity in the medley which opens 2013's Once I Was An Eagle, and it's already evident then she's developed further since then, away from her nufolk beginnings towards a darker direction. Yet, for all the excitement about Laura plugging in, the highlight for me was an intense central acoustic section. This started with the Americana influenced Walk Alone from Short Movie, and concluded with the gentle What He Wrote, enhanced by subtle string backing (the three sensitive backing musicians encompassed a drummer, double bass player and guitarist). I can only imagine the riches to come, as she's proclaimed: 'I'd like to make music for as long as I can; it feels like something I need to do.'
It's well known that Laura doesn't perform encores, finding the process awkward, and she briefly apologised for the lack of banter. This introvert's gentle, polite, and humble personality doesn't prelude the expression of passion, though. She's an accomplished guitarist, but her voice is most startling, a flexible instrument which at times almost breaks into speech, enunciating beautifully crafted lyrics offering insights into the human condition. This was such an emotional journey, encompassing fear, heartbreak, and also a surprising amount of joy. For all her literary seriousness, in the relaxed surroundings of Hebden Bridge away from city crowds, the playful side of her personality was evident. Laura urged us to enjoy the snow which had started falling outside, transforming the surrounding hills into a magical winter scene, just as she had touched and enriched our inner worlds through her stunning musicanship.
Set List
- False Hope
- I Feel Your Love
- Devil's Spoke
- Warrior
- Strange
- Master Hunter
- Walk Alone (acoustic)
- David (acoustic)
- What He Wrote (acoustic)
- Rambling Man
- I Speak Because I Can
- How Can I
- Salinas
- Gurdjieff's Daughter
- Short Movie
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