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Album Reviews
Album Review: Blue Roses – Blue Roses (XL)
By Marc Samuels | Published on Monday 27 April 2009
2009 is supposed to be all about the new electro Duffys – but whilst acts like Lady GaGa, La Roux and Little Boots may be getting all the column inches, don’t be surprised to see Blue Roses cropping up in the end of year’s Best Of 2009 charts (and possibly even the next Mercury Prize). Akin to Tori Amos without the kookiness (or, more accurately, the likes of Joanna Newsom or Essie Jain) Blue Roses (aka 21 year old Laura Groves) deals in exquisite chamber pop, built on simple, sparse instrumentation of piano and soft folky guitars (occasionally abetted by subtle flourishes of strings, synths or chiming percussion) and the beguiling vocals of Groves herself. There’s a maturity unbecoming of such a young artist but also a child-like sense of wonder amidst the album’s crystalline, evocative beauty. Comparisons to Joni Mitchell are not unfounded and whilst it’s early days yet, there’s enough promise in the songwriting and intriguing lyrics to suggest that even more impressive material may follow. This is an impressive and rewarding debut album. MS
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