Like many expecting mothers, Laura Marling prepared herself for the reality that life would change forever in the course of nine months. Where some ambitions are put on hold during the adjustment period, others are activated in new ways. As such, her eighth album, Patterns In Repeat, sees Marling uncover a wellspring of inspiration.

Motherhood proves a fitting muse for Marling’s meditative songwriting and silver-toned lullabies. ‘Child Of Mine’ opens the album with a love letter to domestic bliss populated with the laughter of children, choral flourishes and the hum of woodwinds, while the title rack reflects on the patterns at play in the constellation of family.

The album oscillates between whispered torch songs and emphatic declarations of selfhood, all topped off with Marling's unique sense of melody. Another highlight is 'The Shadows', a sister track of 2010's 'What He Wrote', with each exploring the idea of memory across generations.

A powerful exploration of motherhood, Patterns In Repeat is one of Marling's finest efforts yet.

8/10