Alas, I Cannot Swim

The album was produced by the lead vocalist of her previous band, Noah and the Whale, Charlie Fink, and was initially released on 4 February 2008, three days after her 18th birthday, then conventionally released a week later. Marling had released several smaller singles and EPs before releasing her debut album. She told Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph: "I did my first EP just to get rid of songs I didn't like. They were just so awful. I don't think I really found out what I was doing until about six months after I signed a deal." ==Recording==

The album was recorded in Eastcote Studios, a small independent studio in the west of London regarded as "honest and organic" by Marling. ==Promotion and release==

The album was first released on 4 February 2008 in a "songbox" format, which comprised the CD album, a redeemable code for free concert tickets, and a "memento" for every song on the album. ==Reception==

Critical Media response to Alas, I Cannot Swim was favourable; aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalised rating of 73% based on 7 critical reviews. The Guardians Caroline Sullivan called the album "unnervingly grown-up" and wrote: "Simplicity is the key: playing acoustic guitar and singing in a gentle verge-of-womanhood voice, she keeps things homespun and rootsy." In addition, "Ghosts" appeared in Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2008 at #43, and "Crawled Out of the Sea" was used in the final episode of the third series of Skins. In October 2011, NME placed "My Manic and I" at number 146 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". Commercial Alas, I Cannot Swim entered the UK Albums Chart at number 45. It was certified gold in the United Kingdom, selling over 100,000 copies. ==Track listing==

All songs written and composed by Laura Marling. • "Alas I Cannot Swim" is included at the end of "Your Only Doll (Dora)" as a hidden track ==Personnel==

• Laura Marling – voice, guitar • Marcus Mumford – drums, percussion, accordion • Tom "Fiddle" Hobden – string arrangement • Pete Roe – banjo, keyboards • Ted Dwane – double bass • Joe Ichinose – fiddle • Guy Davie – mastering • Guy Katsav – recording, mixing • Charlie Fink – production ==Charts==