Marika Hackman: We Slept at Last | Album Review

A young, female, Hampshire-born guitar-toting folk musician? We've been here before. The parallels between Marika Hackman and Laura Marling are certainly evident – they have even toured together – but Alt-J collaborator Hackman still has a way to go in her development. Her full-length debut is filled with mystical, pagan folk incantations and full-band flourishes alike, all routinely bathed in atmosphere, murmured vocals and off-kilter arrangements. Her lyrics are intriguing, too; "I'd choke on you if I could . . . maybe I will" she purrs on the ghostly Drown, while the dark side of the natural world looms large on Monday Afternoon. Yet while Hackman is obviously talented this collection is too downbeat and one-note to exhibit any real ear-catching magic. Marikahackman.com