Blue Roses

Blue Roses

(XL)

Record Review by Kevan Peterson

Laura Groves is Blue Roses.  Playing most instruments and comprising all vocal tracks on the album one might think that this singer/songwriter from Yorkshire is either difficult to work with or just unwilling to share the spotlight.  Or perhaps she just really enjoys being involved in all aspects of songwriting.  Whatever the reason, the album sounds rich, despite the lack of other physical bodies being involved with the production.

Just as in nature where there is no real blue roses, only manipulated and engineered ones, this album is a constructed and engineered version of the tracks in Laura Groves’ head and as such exist in this state only in recorded form, having been pieced together over various recording sessions and using many borrowed and begged for instruments.

Groves comfortably switches between instruments while also laying in a haunting vocal track.  The only thing lacking is some form of percussion.  Not even a hint of it graces the majority of the album, but it seldom suffers for it.  “Can’t Sleep,” offers a folk influenced, violin laden track sure to please most fans of late night bedroom music.  From the title of the track, she may be claiming to not be able to sleep, but you sure will be able to after being lulled into a stupor by the stings and melancholy vocal harmonies. 

“I Wish I…” utilizes a slightly displaced piano floating through a haze of vocal layers and string progressions.  “Coast,” simplifies things with a pretty standard guitar and vocal combo that plays solidly but gets swallowed by the deeper waters of the surrounding tracks.  “Does Anyone Love Me Now,” gives the first glimpse of percussion using light tapping and cymbal rides to accent this most important of questions. 

“Doubtful Comforts,” channels the unique energy of Bjork while still staying true to the tone established by Blue Roses from the get go.  It runs like a fine stitching through the fabric of the album.  “Rebecca,” falls back into more familiar territory playing as a fairly straightforward guitar fueled track driven by a bass drum which makes its only shining appearance on this track.  The album closes on a soft note with “Imaginary Flights,” where the piano steals the spotlight and delicately dances with a violin and soft vocals before taking a real flight into oblivion and closing out the album.