8/10

With now five studio albums in eight years, Laura Marling has proven herself as one of this country's most prolific songwriters. Still only the modest age of 25, Marling has always shown wisdom and finesse beyond her years and this latest release looks to continue that incredible form. While her previous albums have all looked to pigeonhole the frontwoman into the folk music genre, 'Short Movie' sees her try her hand at a few other directions and makes for a very eclectic listen.

While the opener 'Warrior' sticks to her usual preconceptions, the follow-up 'False Hope' is an all-and-out rock track with all the gusto and passion of an artist looking to spread their musical wings. The record then continues to blur the lines between the sound we would expect from her and whatever she feels like doing next. The result is an eclectic yet focused release that always keeps Marling at the centre of the record. If there is any instrumental accompaniment, and there rarely is, it is kept fully in the background, allowing her to step up and be the focus of this new release.

This is definitely the start of an evolutionary process for Laura Marling. Not as easy to predict but captivating nonetheless, 'Short Movie' shows off the untethered nature of a brilliant songwriter and once again displays exactly what you need to do in order to keep your sound fresh.