The excellent new Blue Rose Code album Bright Circumstance is both a culmination of over ten years of writing and playing, and the setting out of new musical directions. Blue Rose Code is Ross Wilson who, after road testing many of the new songs live, went into the studio to record the new album with his well-established touring band. The new record reflects all these elements, particularly in the impactful songwriting and expansive and sympathetic musical arrangements, that have delivered a classic album which surely must figure in album of the year lists.
To accompany our review of the new album, Louder Than War asked Ross to throw some more light on the recording of the album, the accompanying tour, and recently-announced headlining of the final day of the Cambridge Folk Festival.
LTW: Can you describe the driving spirit behind the songs on the new album?
Ross Wilson: I wanted to get back to music; we’d built a load of momentum before the Pandemic and then, all of a sudden, everything stopped. My overriding feeling was one of ‘I want to be free again’, free to travel, free to connect with people and places I hadn’t seen in a long time. There is a real sense of emancipation, I think.
The album was recorded with your established touring band. What did that bring to the recording sessions?
For the first time in my career, I feel like I’ve a settled band; we’ve played all over the UK and abroad together and I feel a kinship with them that’s meant we’ve been able to let that breathe in the studio. Maybe I’ve felt comfortable enough to lean on them more – certainly the studio process was more democratic, and the energy we’ve been able to generate on the big stages, I think that’s been distilled into this record.
You have a number of musical guests on the album. Can you say a little about their contributions?
Eddi (Reader) has been a bit of an inspiration to me. Watching her perform, it’s a spiritual experience; the way she lives in the song, from number to number. There’s no phoning it in. There’s a realness to everything she does. As a singer, I can think of no finer example of a performer of songs than Eddi. Likewise, getting Donald Shaw in was a bit of a moment for us. His ear and musicality are incredible. Donald came into the Glasgow West End studio for the morning and just gave himself to the process. Watching him work was wonderful and I love what he’s brought to the album with his accordion.
Your songs over time are often reinterpreted in the live setting. They never seem to stand still, which is something audiences seem to really appreciate. How would you describe your relationship with your songs?
I believe the song is never really finished. Once given over to an audience, it takes on its own form. You can feel an audience moving to a song and, in turn, the song responding to the audiences’ attentions. I think it keeps us invested in songs that we’ve played many times before, and it gives people a different experience from show to show.
You are supporting the album release with a series of shows around the UK. What can we expect at the shows?
We’re taking the big noise out for most of the dates, Liverpool, London, Hebden Bridge and beyond. People (myself included) get bored hearing musicians talk about the financially parlous state of music and touring so I won’t go on, but I’m investing in taking the band out this Spring – I want people to see the real deal live.
This year’s Cambridge Folk Festival is partnering with Showcase Scotland Expo to host live performances from emerging artists from Scotland. Blue Rose Code will be closing the Festival on the Sunday evening in a finale highlighting the impact of Scottish music. Can you tell us a bit more about this exciting initiative.
This will be our biggest show, to date. It’s a tremendous honour and opportunity, as well as responsibility, for us to be closing the great Cambridge Folk Festival. We’ll be performing lots of Blue Rose Code songs and also we’ll be joined by Justin Currie (Del Amitri), Karine Polwart and Steve Knightley to sing some of their songs and some Scottish classics. A personal highlight will be having the legend Danny Thompson come out of retirement to perform with us for a song or two also. It’s going to be a great night, and I can’t wait.
Blue Rose Code – some final reflections
Ross Wilson and Blue Rose Code embody the spirit of the healing power of music. Live and on record, Ross performs songs that speak to the power of connection, empathy, and hope, even when life gets challenging and the way forward is not clear. Alongside this, Blue Rose Code offer an irresistible and joyous blend of soul, jazz, folk and blues that never fails to move an audience. The current touring band are an ensemble of incredible musicians not to be missed. So, seeking out Blue Rose Code is something you won’t regret, and will be the beginning of a journey with one of our most authentic and gifted singer songwriters.
Watch here the video of Blue Rose Code performing Jericho, from the new album, live at Solas Sound, Glasgow:
Blue Rose Code close the Cambridge Folk Festival on the main stage with their Caledonian Soul Cavalcade on the 28 July. They are also supporting the release of the new album, with a series of shows around the UK. You can find out more details about these and Blue Rose Code here:
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Interview and words by Gareth Allen. You can find more of Gareth’s writing for Louder than War at his author’s archive.
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