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Song for Our Daughter

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Not to be confused withSong for My Daughter.
Song for Our Daughter
Studio albumby
Laura Marling
Released10 April 2020(2020-04-10)
StudioMarling'shome studio,London
Monnow Valley Studio,Wales
Ethan Johns' Three Crows studio
GenreFolk[1]
Length36:29
Label
Producer
Laura Marlingchronology
Semper Femina
(2017) 		Song for Our Daughter
(2020) 		Patterns in Repeat
(2024)
SinglesfromSong for Our Daughter
  1. "Held Down"
    Released: 5 April 2020

Song for Our Daughteris the seventh studio album by British singer-songwriterLaura Marling.It was released on 10 April 2020.[2][3]It was co-produced by Marling with longtime collaboratorEthan Johns.[4]The album's title is figurative, with Marling writing to a fictional daughter.[4]

Song for Our Daughterwas shortlisted for the 2020Mercury Prizeand was nominated forBest Folk Albumat the63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Background and themes

[edit]

Marling described the album as "stripped of everything that modernity and ownership does to it... essentially a piece of me".[5]The songs are written to an imaginary child, with Marling stating it allowed her to offer her "all the confidences and affirmations I found so difficult to provide myself".[6]Marling was inspired byMaya Angelou's bookLetter to My Daughter(2009), which she read a few years before the album's release.[4]

Writing and recording

[edit]

The songs on the album were all written by Marling.[7]However, the title track and "For You" feature additional songwriting by George Jephson,[7]while "The End of the Affair" features additional songwritingBlake Mills,[7]who produced Marling's previous albumSemper Femina(2017).[8][9]

The songs were demoed in Marling's basement studio in her home in London. The album was co-produced by Marling with longtime collaboratorEthan Johnsand was primarily recorded atMonnow Valley Studio.[10][4]Johns previously produced Marling's albumsI Speak Because I Can(2010),[11]A Creature I Don't Know(2011)[12]andOnce I Was an Eagle(2013).[13]The album was mixed by Ethan Johns[7]and by Dom Monks,[4]who previously completed engineering onI Speak Because I Can,[14]engineering onA Creature I Don't Know,[15]as well as recording and additional production onOnce I Was an Eagle.[16]Additional recording and mixing were done at Ethan Johns' Three Crows studio.[7]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Compared to her previous album,Song for Our Daughterfeatures more sparse and starkly minimal arrangements to create an intimate sound. Laura Marling's vocals are accompanied mostly by acoustic guitar and light percussion, but are backed at times by piano and string arrangements.[17][18][8]The string arrangements were arranged byRob Moose.[19]Marling also employs intricate harmony vocals on the album,[6][18]including her layered vocal harmonies on "Held Down".[20]

"Alexandra" was inspired byLeonard Cohen's song "Alexandra Leaving".[21]Marling's song is about her fascination with Cohen's attitudes towards women. In an interview withFar Out Magazine,she explained, "He writes about women in such a beautiful way. It doesn't aggravate me that he lived the way he wanted to live. In fact, I think it's very brave of people to live that way."[22]"Only the Strong" borrows a line fromRobert Icke's adaptation of theSchillerplayMary Stuart,which Marling wrote the music for.[22]The song "Hope We Meet Again" was originally written for the play's haunting finale;Varsity's Maya Yousif wrote that even when "devoid of its theatrical context, the track glimmers; the acoustic and pedal steel guitar combining to produce notes of hopefulness and loneliness to a chilling effect".[23]"Blow by Blow" is a piano ballad written in homage toPaul McCartney.[21]"Song for Our Daughter" was influenced by Marling's recent studies inpsychoanalysisand concerns "innocence being taken away prematurely" and preparing "the next generation in a way that you weren't".[22]"Fortune" is about a powerless woman unable to escape her circumstance, and is inspired by Marling's mother's "running away fund" that she has never used.[22][8]"The End of the Affair" is about the "infinite" nature of love and the "idea of a private mourning of love" which cannot be shared. The song's title is a reference toGraham Greene'snovel of the same name.[22]"For You" is a love song inspired by McCartney, and features Marling's boyfriend playing guitar. It was recorded at home "on the fly" on her laptop and is included on the album in its original demo form.[22][24]

Release

[edit]

The album was initially scheduled for an August 2020 release, however the date was moved forward to 10 April 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[25][6]Marling herself commented on this, stating she "saw no reason to hold back on something that, at the very least, might entertain, and at its best, provide some sense of union".[26]"Held Down" was released as a single on 5 April 2020, alongside the album's announcement.[27]The album was released physically (onCDand both standard and marbledvinyl LP) on 10 July 2020.[28]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.6/10[30]
Metacritic88/100[29]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[31]
The Daily Telegraph[32]
The Guardian[6]
The Independent[33]
Mojo[34]
musicOMH[35]
NME[36]
The Observer[37]
Pitchfork7.6/10[8]
Uncut8/10[10]

Song for Our Daughterwas met with widespread critical acclaim. AtMetacritic,which assigns anormalisedrating out of 100 from reviews from professional critics, the album received a score of 88, based on 20 reviews.[29]According to Metacritic, it was the 9th best-reviewed album of 2020.[38]AggregatorAnyDecentMusic?gave it 8.6 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[30]

Ella Kemp ofNMEcalled the album "a graceful ode to resilience... it's an absolute triumph".[36]Alexis PetridisofThe Guardiandescribed it as being "alternately intimate, sneering and sad, and lavished with gorgeous melodies"; it was ultimately named album of the week.[6]Neil McCormickofThe Daily Telegraphcalled the album Marling's "most measured and mature work" and praised her "skillful guitar playing" and "exquisite" harmonies.[32]In a perfect score review forRecord Collector,Oregano Rathbone called the album "so uncannily, unreasonably and astutely beautiful that it meticulously sets aside every last one of your emotional checks and balances to wrap your core in a firm embrace."[39]In her review forMojo,Jude Rogerspraised the album's production and Rob Moose's string arrangements, and wrote that Marling's "voice has never been better, each syllable a shining pool of water, clear, vivid and beautiful."[34]Steven Edelstone ofPastecalled it "simultaneously Marling's most straightforward, musically simplistic record to date and her most beautiful release yet."[19]Laura Stanley ofExclaim!wrote, "Marling remains at the top of her game."[40]Tom Hullwas somewhat less impressed, saying Marling has "never sounded more likeJoni Mitchell,although my favorite Mitchell albums have a bit more spunk. "[41]

In the review forAllMusic,Timothy Monger claimed that "At just 30 years old and with seven albums to her credit, Marling's songwriting has been honed to a level of literate maturity that few artists achieve in their careers."[31]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Year-end list accolades forSong for Our Daughter
Publication List Rank Ref.
Clash Albums of the Year 2020
18
[42]
Double J The 50 best albums of 2020
7
[43]
Esquire(UK) The 50 Best Albums of 2020
50
[44]
Gigwise 51 Best Albums of 2020
29
[45]
The Guardian The 50 best albums of 2020
27
[46]
The Independent The 40 best albums of 2020
4
[47]
Jutarnji list The Best Foreign Albums of 2020
19
[48]
Mojo The 75 Best Albums of 2020
17
[49]
musicOMH Top 50 Albums of 2020
21
[50]
NME The 50 best albums of 2020
25
[51]
NBHAP 50 Best Albums of 2020
50
[52]
Paste The 25 Best Albums of 2020 (So Far)
13
[53]
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2020
25
[54]
Uncut The Top 75 Albums of the Year
10
[55]
Under the Radar Top 100 Albums of 2020
18
[56]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards and nominations forSong for Our Daughter
Organisation Year Award Result Ref.
British Phonographic Industry 2020 Mercury Prize Nominated
[57]
Grammy Awards 2021 Best Folk Album Nominated
[58]
Ivor Novello Awards 2021 Best Album Nominated
[59]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written byLaura Marling,except where noted

Song for Our Daughtertrack listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Alexandra"3:19
2."Held Down"4:07
3."Strange Girl"3:21
4."Only the Strong"3:20
5."Blow by Blow"2:55
6."Song for Our Daughter"
  • Marling
  • George Jephson[a]
4:06
7."Fortune"3:55
8."The End of the Affair"
3:24
9."Hope We Meet Again"4:05
10."For You"
  • Marling
  • George Jephson[a]
3:57
Total length:36:29

Notes

  • ^[a]signifies an additional songwriter

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album'sliner notes.[7]

  • Laura Marling– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, güiro, slide guitar, production
  • Ethan Johns– drums, continuum fingerboard, resonator guitar, shaker, Moog, production, mixing
  • Nick Pini – bass, bowed double bass
  • Dan See – drums
  • Anna Corcoran – piano
  • Chris Hillman – pedal steel guitar
  • Gabriela Cabezas – cello
  • Dom Monks – loops, mixing
  • Rob Moose– string arrangements
  • Edie Phillips – recording assistant(Monnow)
  • Justin Tyler Close – photography
  • Vance Wellenstein – graphic design
  • Theresa Adebiyi – creative direction

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance forSong for Our Daughter
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (UltratopFlanders)[60] 86
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[61] 61
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[62] 80
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[63] 27
Scottish Albums(OCC)[64] 3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[65] 78
UK Albums(OCC)[66] 6
USTop Current Album Sales(Billboard)[67] 89

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"The 20 Best Folk Albums of 2020".Paste.18 January 2021.Retrieved16 October2022.
  2. ^"Laura Marling – Shop".Laura Marling.Retrieved6 April2020.
  3. ^"Laura Marling's 'Held Down' Announces Her Seventh Album, 'Song For Our Daughter'".Uproxx.6 April 2020.Retrieved6 April2020.
  4. ^abcdeWhite, Caitlin (10 April 2020)."Laura Marling's New Album Is a Pivot Toward 'Hopefulness'".Spin.Retrieved11 April2020.
  5. ^"Laura Marling".Laura Marling.Retrieved6 April2020.
  6. ^abcdePetridis, Alexis(9 April 2020)."Laura Marling: Song for Our Daughter review – the intimate album we need".The Guardian.Retrieved11 April2020.
  7. ^abcdefSong for Our Daughter(liner notes).Laura Marling.Chrysalis.2020. BRRV002.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^abcdMyers, Owen (11 April 2020)."Laura Marling: Song for Our Daughter Album Review".Pitchfork.Retrieved11 April2020.
  9. ^Murphy, Sarah (28 November 2016)."Laura Marling Announces 'Semper Femina' LP, Shares New Video".Exclaim!.Retrieved17 April2020.
  10. ^abO'Connell, Sharon. "Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter: Accomplished singer-songwriter loosens the ties that bind on her seventh".Uncut.No. 277 (June 2020 ed.). p. 24.
  11. ^Empire, Kitty(20 March 2010)."Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can".The Guardian.Retrieved11 April2020.
  12. ^Breihan, Tom (11 July 2011)."New Release: Laura Marling:A Creature I Don't Know".Pitchfork.Retrieved11 April2020.
  13. ^Coleman, Nick(25 May 2013)."Album: Laura Marling, Once I Was an Eagle (Virgin)".The Independent.Retrieved11 April2020.
  14. ^I Speak Because I Can(liner notes).Laura Marling.Virgin.2010. CDVY3075.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^A Creature I Don't Know(liner notes).Laura Marling.Virgin.2011. V3091.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^Once I Was an Eagle(liner notes).Laura Marling.Virgin.2013. V3110.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^Maunier, Sean (16 April 2020)."Music Review: 'Song For Our Daughter' by Laura Marling".Metro Weekly.Retrieved18 April2020.
  18. ^abDeLuca, Dan (17 April 2020)."Album reviews: Fiona Apple is extraordinary again on the new 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters'".The Philadelphia Inquirer.Retrieved18 April2020.
  19. ^abEdelstone, Steven (10 April 2010)."Laura Marling's StunningSong For Our DaughterArrives Right On Time ".Paste.Retrieved16 April2010.
  20. ^Lockwood, Andrew (7 April 2020)."Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter Album Review".Contactmusic.com.Retrieved18 April2020.
  21. ^abMcGrath, Rachel (9 April 2020)."Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter review: Superb collection full of romance and hope".Evening Standard.Retrieved11 April2020.
  22. ^abcdefWhatley, Jack (9 April 2020)."Laura Marling welcomes herself home with 'Song For Our Daughter'".Far Out Magazine.Retrieved17 April2020.
  23. ^Yousif, Maya (2 May 2020)."The triumphant maturity ofSong For Our Daughter".Varsity.Retrieved18 April2023.
  24. ^Peirson-Hagger, Ellen (11 April 2020).""To be creative, you need naivety": Laura Marling on lockdown, trauma and re-learning how to write ".New Statesman.Retrieved17 April2020.
  25. ^"Laura Marling Moves Up New Album to This Week, Shares New Song".Pitchfork.Retrieved6 April2020.
  26. ^"Laura Marling announces album 'Song For Our Daughter' and shares 'Held Down'".NME.6 April 2020.Retrieved6 April2020.
  27. ^Corcoran, Nina (5 April 2020)."Laura Marling Announces New Album Song for Our Daughter, Shares" Held Down ": Stream".Consequence of Sound.Retrieved12 April2020.
  28. ^"Laura Marling Song for Our Daughter".www.piccadillyrecords.com.10 July 2020.Retrieved11 July2020.
  29. ^ab"Song for Our Daughter by Laura Marling Reviews and Tracks".Metacritic.Retrieved16 August2020.
  30. ^ab"Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling reviews".AnyDecentMusic?.Retrieved11 April2020.
  31. ^abMonger, Timothy (10 April 2020)."Laura Marling | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved22 April2020.
  32. ^abMcCormick, Neil(9 April 2020)."This week's best new albums: Laura Marling, The Strokes, Chimpan A".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 11 April 2020.Retrieved11 April2020.
  33. ^O'Connor, Roisin (9 April 2020)."Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter review: Songs as fragmented and beautiful as stained glass".The Independent.Retrieved11 April2020.
  34. ^abRogers, Jude."Now you see her: For her most immediate, heartfelt album yet, Marling forensically explores womanhood in glorious songs".Mojo.No. 319 (June 2020 ed.). p. 84.
  35. ^Johnson, Steven (15 April 2020)."Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter".musicOMH.Retrieved16 April2020.
  36. ^abKemp, Ella (9 April 2020)."Laura Marling – 'Song For Our Daughter' review: a lifeline for turbulent times".NME.Retrieved11 April2020.
  37. ^Empire, Kitty(19 April 2020)."Laura Marling: Song for Our Daughter review – better than ever".The Observer.Retrieved20 April2020.
  38. ^"The 40 Best Albums of 2020: Song for Our Daughter by Laura Marling".Metacritic.24 December 2020.Retrieved24 December2020.
  39. ^Rathbone, Oregano."Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter".Record Collector.No. 505 (May 2020 ed.).
  40. ^Stanley, Laura (10 April 2020)."Laura Marling Song for Our Daughter".Exclaim!.Retrieved16 April2020.
  41. ^Hull, Tom(28 April 2020)."Music Week".Tom Hull – on the Web.Retrieved9 July2020.
  42. ^"Clash Albums Of The Year 2020".Clash.14 December 2020.Retrieved19 December2020.
  43. ^"The 50 best albums of 2020".Double J.9 December 2020.Retrieved10 December2020.
  44. ^Ovenden, Olivia (11 December 2020)."The 50 Best Albums of 2020".Esquire (UK).Retrieved11 December2020.
  45. ^"The Gigwise 51 Best Albums of 2020".Gigwise.1 December 2020.Retrieved5 December2020.
  46. ^"The 50 best albums of 2020".The Guardian.Retrieved10 December2020.
  47. ^"The 40 best albums of 2020, from Bob Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways to Taylor Swift's Folklore".The Independent.18 December 2020.Retrieved24 December2020.
  48. ^Dragaš, Aleksandar(24 December 2020)."Glazbeni Kritičar Jutarnjeg izabrao najbolje strane albume u 2020. godini!".Jutarnji list(in Croatian).Retrieved7 February2021.
  49. ^"The 75 Best Albums Of 2020".Mojo.No. 326. January 2021. p. 52.
  50. ^Hubbard, Michael (16 December 2020)."musicOMH's Top 50 Albums Of 2020".musicOMH.Retrieved19 December2020.
  51. ^"The 50 best albums of 2020".NME.11 December 2020.Retrieved11 December2020.
  52. ^"NBHAP's 50 Best Albums Of 2020".Nothing but Hope and Passion.3 December 2020.Retrieved10 December2020.
  53. ^"The Best Albums of 2020 (So Far)".Paste.8 June 2020.Retrieved13 June2020.
  54. ^"The 50 Best Albums Of 2020".Stereogum.1 December 2020.Retrieved1 December2020.
  55. ^"The Top 75 Albums Of The Year".Uncut.No. 284. January 2021. p. 79.
  56. ^"Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2020".Under the Radar.15 January 2021.Retrieved29 January2021.
  57. ^"Michael Kiwanuka wins the 2020 Mercury Prize".BBC News.24 September 2020.Retrieved1 December2020.
  58. ^"Laura Marling".GRAMMY.com.23 November 2020.Retrieved1 December2020.
  59. ^Taylor, Mark (10 August 2021)."Nominations announced for The Ivors with Apple Music 2021".The Ivors Academy.Retrieved29 May2024.
  60. ^"Ultratop.be – Laura Marling – Songs for Our Daughter"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  61. ^"Dutchcharts.nl – Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  62. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter"(in German).GfK Entertainment Charts.Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  63. ^"Portuguesecharts.com – Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter".Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  64. ^"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  65. ^"Swisscharts.com – Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter".Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  66. ^"Official Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  67. ^"Laura Marling Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)".Billboard.Retrieved14 July2024.
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