Not to be confused with Dan Bejar’s labor of love, Blue Roses is the performing name of Yorkshire singer-songwriter Laura Groves. Back home, she’s landed at the fertile NME/BBC/Guardian intersect of critical kudos, but things States side are set to launch with the XL release of her self-titled, self-produced debut next month. Blue Roses cites an alliterative gaggle of influences on her introspective, heart-worn folk — “Bartók to Bush, Tiersen to Tears For Fears, Debussy to Du Maurier” — to which you could safely add your favorite coffee shop chanteuse (Leslie, Joni, Joanna) and probably find a moment to back it up. Ultimately Laura’s writing never approaches the most innovative and extreme aesthetics of her RIYL list, but she’s clearly listened well, and in command of a pristine, flexible, endearing voice. Her best look comes on the sublime marimba-waltz of “Doubtful Comforts,” which recalls Feist’s spin with Grizzly Bear on “Service Bell” before it spreads into a line of classical, ascending intervals, and then a crackling reprise. Pair that MP3 with the open-road finger-picked folk of “I Am Leaving” for another side to her stylings.
Blue Roses is out 7/21 via XL. She recently did a session for Steve Lamacq’s Radio 2 show, and you can hear a couple more at MySpace.
[Photo by Danny North]
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great job on putting her in this list – her music is really great for a quiet summer day.
Lindsay Weir?
Influenced by Bush, huh? Yeah, Gavin Rossdale’s music has touched a lot of people.
Just in case you weren’t joking around Bush= Kate Bush.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Laura Barrett while listening: http://www.myspace.com/laurabarrett
Sounds lovely. Like St. Vincent meets Bat for Lashes, pre-synth styles.
Love love love it.
sounds a bit like ida maria
“Doubtful Comforts” is very Laura Barrett ( a Canadian Gem in Toronto)
http://www.myspace.com/laurabarrett
She sounds interesting. I think i’ll check her out later.
Where can you get her album(s)? I can’t seem to find them anywhere…
You must’ve missed the part where it says the album is out July 21.
It is not July 21 yet.
The album is quite impresive when you let the songs grow on you…
Coast is my favourite song on the album.