Laura Groves - Friday (Live at Home)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, music isn’t just a tick box exercise for me. I hate the idea of defining myself by one genre of music, or by classifying a song or artist ‘bad’ just because it’s (delete as appropriate) mainstream / alternative or noisy / too melodic or is made by people that are old / kids. These are just some of the prejudices that music listeners will often throw into the mix to determine if something is good or not. (Don’t get me started on the ‘real music not manufactured music’ or ‘honest music’ argument as a justification for music being good or not. It’s a fundamentally flawed argument in every way.)

But then sometimes, despite this resolution to keep an open mind and determine if something is good or not purely on some undefinable concept that’s centred around if a piece of music has some sort of power and connects, I’ll often contradict myself. “No, I don’t like that – it has no tune and is a mess,” the next day can turn into “I really like the lack of structure to this and the way that it challenges you with it’s lack of immediate melody.” I’m a total hypocrite. But in a way that’s the beauty of music. To paraphrase a Manic Street Preachers quote: “I reserve the right to contradict myself.”

Those contradictions continue in this blog post. Music shouldn’t be a tick box exercise for me; but sometimes it is. And I’m pretty certain that every solo release that Laura Groves has ever put out (including her wonderful Blue Roses project) has ticked all my musical boxes. 

Yesterday Laura put a new live version of Friday (originally released in 2014) on her You Tube channel. Recorded and performed at home there is really very little to say except that it is wonderful and absolutely full of love. From the electronic ambient opening segment to the moment when Laura begins to sing “I don’t want to say goodbye,” it’s pretty much perfect. I could listen to and watch this all day.

Laura Groves – Friday (Live)

Laura Groves - Dream Story

If there’s one return to music that we’ve been more excited about than any else (we’re still wishing with the mildest glimmer of hope for that reunion / reappearance of The Sundays) then it’s that of Laura Groves. For Laura’s 2009 Blue Roses LP through XL remains one of our favourite works of the last 10 years.

Laura’s new material has its own special charm and this song Dream Story, released today, is probably the most beguiling track she’s offered post Blue Roses. With warm sounding keys that have a soft glow similar to Donald Fagen's music circa 1982’s Nightfly  LP and Laura’s impeccable vocal, this one takes its title from a 1926 novella by Austrian author Arthur Schnitzler, a tale which deals with sexual dreams and their blurring with reality. The song takes similar lyrical themes and is an exquisite piece of subtle pop.

Dream Story features on Groves' upcoming Committed Language EP, released by DEEK Recordings on the 16th February.

Laura Groves - Dream Story

Laura Groves - Friday

“Tell Laura I love her,” sang both Ray Peterson and Ricky Valance in the 60’s, and whilst we’re not going to end up crashing and burning like the protagonist in that particular song did just to marry her, we’re pretty enamoured with the music Miss Groves has created. Her album under the name Blue Roses was our favourite of 2009 and her recent work with Nautic plus her own Thinking About Thinking EP have all been thoroughly good listens as well.

Recently the Bradford lass uploaded a new demo to Soundcloud, which if we had any sense of journalistic timing we would have streamed two days ago, but thankfully Friday is a song that deserves to be listened to every day of the week, so today will do just fine. This is a soft hued piano ballad that could have easily found a place on her 2009 record. It’s characterised by Laura’s wonderful cherubic voice and ability to write a melody that is both warmly and easily accessible yet still requires multiple listens to fully immerse yourself in it.

If you live in London or its surrounds, clear your diary on the 30th July, for Laura's playing a show at St Pancras Old Church. You can tell her that you love her there* and as it's a church, who knows, maybe there will be marriage as well?

*Probably best that you don't though - you might get thrown out for being a bit weird and stalker like.

Laura Groves - Friday

Laura Groves - Waterfalls

Here's a new tune from the wonderful Laura Groves, this time turning in a song for the the cleverly titled Pun For Cover LP, a ten track compilation of covers that you can buy via Deek recordings for just £3 via Bandcamp. That’s less than the price of a pint of beer and will give you far longer lasting pleasure. The song is Waterfalls by Paul McCartney which we are reliably informed is from his solo record Paul McCartney II, which was released in 1980 and found McCartney getting experimental and electronic. 

Laura’s version makes us visualise a still pond with just the slightest ripples around the edge. Float away with it and let it cast away your worries.

Laura Groves - Waterfalls

Laura Groves - Easy Way Out

Our love affair with Laura Groves (once known as Blue Roses) and the music she makes continues today with the release of her Thinking About Thinking EP. You may remember we streamed the delightful Pale Shadows just a couple of weeks ago, and now here’s another song from the EP - the celestial Easy Way Out. With its warm sounding electronics, beats and even some 80’s styled soft focus late night sax it’s a preciously pretty tune commanded of course by Laura’s pure and entrancing voice. What more can we say? This EP is on repeat and it gets better every time.

Whilst you’re thinking about buying the Thinking About Thinking EP, let us make it a little easier for you. It’s released today, it’s gorgeous and it costs less than most UK pubs charge for a pint of beer. Plus it will give you much more long term satisfaction than a drink. So click on this link to Laura’s Bandcamp and get your credit card at the ready.

Laura Groves - Easy Way Out

Laura Groves - Pale Shadows

If we were ever to write one of those Top 100 Albums You Must Listen To Before You Die lists, there’s absolutely no doubt that Laura Groves aka Blue Roses debut LP, released in 2009, would feature somewhere. It’s a record we named as our favourite of that year and still find deep pleasure from now.

Since the Blue Roses project Laura has been relatively quiet in terms of releases, although her voice could be heard on the work of Nautic last year.

Now she has returned, this time recording under her own name following a move to London from Bradford. With a forthcoming vinyl and digital EP entitled Thinking About Thinking ready for release at the end of this month two songs have surfaced. The first was the tranquil and warm sounding Inky Sea (which you can hear here) which sounds like a natural and unforced progression from her classic and acoustic early days to a more ambient and electronic sound. The second track Pale Shadows (streaming below) makes us swoon even more so. It’s possibly the closest thing to a pop song that Laura that has ever released, albeit a pop song of languid beauty. With gentle floating guitars, light tapping beats and Laura’s wonderful and remarkable voice, the ears will be fully aurally massaged after this.

You can order Thinking About Thinking here.

Laura Groves - Pale Shadows