Laura J Martin returns with her fourth solo album Prepared following the collaborative project ‘Wyndow’ written with Lavinia Blackwall of Trembling Bells, released in 2021. Her previous solo album, On The Never Never, was recorded in Nashville with members of Lambchop, Silver Jews and Jesus Lizard and for Prepared the sonic canvas changes again. Building her own studio after moving back to Liverpool, Laura found herself drawn to drum machines that wouldn’t stay in time, and a piano with a tuning mind of its own. Prepared is in Laura’s words “my composted scrapbook of the last couple of years. I followed where the sounds took me, the sonic train left the station and led me on its merry way.”
A mercurial and bewitching live performer who interweaves layers of vocals, flute, mandolin and electronics; Laura has toured regularly across the UK and Europe and supported acts such as PJ Harvey, Teenage Fanclub, Cate Le Bon and performed and collaborated extensively with Euros Childs. Consistently played and supported by BBC Radio 6 Music DJs such as Marc Riley, Craig Charles, Cerys Matthews, Lauren Laverne, Gideon Coe and Stuart Maconie.
“Prepared maps a magical hinterland between crimpers-aloft Strawberry Switchblade and Robbie Basho therapy music. Be healed.”
★★★★ – MOJO
“There’s only one word to describe this – lush! The whole album is a thing of beauty”
CRAIG CHARLES – BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC
“Prepared is one of the most unexpected records I’ve heard this year.”
BANDCAMP DAILY
“Today’s most adventurous brainy pop”
SHINDIG
“Beautifully layered, pop eccentricity”
GOD IS IN THE TV
“Prepared is her strongest, strangest and most distinctive work yet”
KLOF
“An extremely unique sound, I love the combinations of textures she puts together”
LAUREN LAVERNE – BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC