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Meanwhile, here's Laura Marling, someone who a lot of people seem to think should be celebrated because she is very young, and sings songs which sound very old and weary. This is an interesting thing about her, but it's not, like, her Unique Selling Point.

Other people seem to think Laura Marling is worthy of note because she has a dark perspective on things which seperates her out from all the navel-gazing, whimsical flimsy which seems to be a hallmark of the modern singer-songwriter. Again, this is true, but no more so than it is for Amy Winehouse or Emmy The Great.

No, the thing which is exceptional about Laura Marling is that she's really, really good. That's it. She writes strong songs, sings them well, brings in other instruments and pretty harmonies so that you can't become weary of the super-basic guitar and vocals arrangement, and she sounds like she means every single word.

And, in marked contrast to the recent offering from Adele, there's nothing musically going on here which gets in the way of the song, everything works in perfect harmony, from the xylophone high above to the soft bed of strings underneath.

In fact, an arrangement like this would suit Adele down to the ground. Should we inform the Brits panel?

Released:January 21stth

(Fraser McAlpine)