LAURA MARLING

Where You've Heard Her Unless you're British — and subjected to the white-noise whoosh of the Blighty hype machine — it's doubtful Marling is on your radar. That should change when Alas, I Cannot Swim, her first CD, hits the U.S. this spring.

For Fans of Fiona Apple, Beth Orton, and Vashti Bunyan. Marling, 18, is a precocious baby sister to all of the above. An ethereal platinum blonde who's both thoughtful and mournful, she's an old, haunted soul in a teenager's body.

Best Track ''My Manic and I'' (myspace.com/lauramarling)