Stylistically, there are many similarities between the sound of Laura Marling and Regina Spektor. Both artists feature a pop-folk sound, and use artistically crafted lyrics, but Regina’s brand is more of an upbeat brand from this side of the pond. Her reputation is already well established, and Regina has been enjoying success in the music scene for a little less than a decade, using the piano as her solo instrument of choice. "Fidelity", much like the previously featured tune "Goodbye England", begins with orchestral instrumentation; we hear pizzicato strings, and later on a clarinet. In this song, the clarinet is never featured as a solo instrument, but more of a complimentary, decorative figure contributing to the overall character of the music. What often makes the clarinet desirable in popular music, is its ability to match the timbre of the vocalist, and create a wide variety of tone colors that amplify the mood as we will hear in this example.
Sources:
Regina Spektor (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved from http://www.discogs.com/artist/Regina+Spektor.
