Blue Rose Code
Album: North Ten
Label: Reveal
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.bluerosecode.com

From the first notes of the opening track, "Whitechapel" one of the first things you notice about "North Ten" is a mellowness brought about by the gently plucked banjo and relaxed guitar that naturally forms a canvas for the poetry of the words to define themselves on.

Like the London district the song is named after, this is not a song to be taking at face value, through music and lyric, you feel that there is a lot more going on beneath the surface, stones to be overturned, cupboards to be opened.

It's a theme that repeats through the album, disturbing the surface to see what sits beneath the surface and that's as true of the love focused songs, as the journey songs, the observation., Blue Rose Code seems to want to explore.

"Come The Springtime", as another example, is a song that explores relationships, but not only on that one to one level, it's a song about family, not just about potentially being a couple and one which also brings out the Scottishness in the voice of lead singer, Ross Wilson aka Blue Rose Code.

Geographically "North Ten" predominantly references Scotland and London, both as metaphor and location. "Western Ross To Nova Scotia" covers one of the great migrations, but not just about what lies out there, it also relates to what has to be left behind.

Blue Rose Code have, in "North Ten", released an album that has a relaxed, almost laid back feel, but it's not an album that lets you off listening duties. It has a strong narrative, one that captures and holds your attention and as important, one that entertains you.

Neil King