British folk singer Laura Marling has always been deft with a poetic line and a dulcet melody, which often urges her music to feel like it’s been written specifically for the listener. Semper Femina, her sixth album, which was recorded with Blake Mills, isn’t any different. The songs are quiet and careful, resonating with sincerity and emotional kindness. “The Valley” pairs an ethereal indie-folk melody with Marling’s evocative croon, which she trails over the instrumental notes purposefully and languidly. “Wild Once” strips everything except that voice and a gently plucked acoustic guitar, forcing you to listen to every line of the songwriter’s lyrics. She has something real to say, even when it is veiled, and the lines here feel like they’re being whispered right into your ear. Closing number “Nothing Not Nearly” amps up the volum —slightly—and lets Marling fast-talk her way through a pulsating number. Even then, when Marling pushes a little more forcefully, the singer still sounds like every sound and every word is thoughtful and decisive. She’s done all this for a reason and an effect, and that effect has a subtle power. That final song surges with a forceful sentiment—that life is short and you have to seize it, especially when it comes to love. In this vein, like on past releases, Marling wants her songs to leave something behind with the audience. They’re about reflection, which creeps up as the music unfolds—sort of like it was all meant for you to begin with.