Marina Allen

In many ways, singer-songwriter Marina Allen's music comes across as a complete throwback to the old Laurel Canyon sound of the '70s. There are unmistakable echoes of artists like Carole King and Joni Mitchell in her music, all prominent figures of that particular scene. That, and her voice sometimes tends to slip into the Karen Carpenter territory. The remarkable thing about all these almost inescapable associations is the way Allen is able to slalom around the shadows of such giants and carve an entire lane for herself. It takes an artist with solid foundations who knows where she stands to pull that trick off. It also helps that she happens to be a talented songwriter who can write strong melodies that stay with the listener.