Divided into two parts, Once I was An Eagle, from English darling Laura Marling, begins with seven sequential tracks of unfurling emotion and concluding on an instrumental interlude, before launching into Part 2; weaving between ruminating balladry and a more absinthial kind of folk, putting a forlorn edge on a theme of love-gone-wrong.
“When we were in love, I was the eagle, you were the dove” sings Marling, “You were a dove and I rose about you and preyed.” Acting as a testament to fragility; capturing Marling’s continuous exploration of dolor through literary aspersion and rattling folk energy. Bewilderingly, the entire album was recorded in just a week, and as far as my ears can tell, there are very little tuning alterations throughout the entirety of the 16 tracks… shaping an authentic feel and allowing prominence to the conundrums of loves demise: The recognition, the disillusion, and the eventual bitter-sweet process of moving on.
Bestowing an aching homage to Bob Dylan in ‘Master Hunter’ and chiming with desperation in ‘Where Can I Go?’ and concluding in the resolute of ‘Saved These Words’… with Marling’s ethereal vocal and forlorn disclosure crooning “Loves not easy, Not always fun, And words are sleazy, my love is better done.” … “Thank you naivety for failing me again, he was my next verse.” Wholly, 16 tracks might just be a bit prolonged for a regular listen, but alas; I can’t envisage a more fitting album for a desperate tender soul to sink their teeth into after an unfortunate collapse of a relationship; taking comfort in Marling’s astute virtuosity and pure vehemence is something I boldly implore.
8/10
Reviewer: Chloe Webb
You’ve quoted the lyrics incorrectly. And there’s definitely use of open tunings.
Beetle headed comment
I happen to thinks its spot on.
Good work Chlo
She wrote that it has ‘very little tuning alterations’.
Not none.