Only 1000 pressed and available EXCLUSIVELY from Bandcamp and a few hand-picked record stores. Hand numbered, strictly limited edition double vinyl of Blue Rose Code's new album, 'The Water Of Leith.

Liner Notes by Ian Rankin

So you’re the kind of person who reads sleeve notes? Me, too, even though I agree with the contentious quote which has it that ‘writing about music is like dancing about architecture’. On the other hand, I can imagine a modern ballet which would seek to interpret the works of various architects, so here I am having a go.

When Blue Rose Code (we can probably call him Ross) asked me to pen some notes for his new album, I was flattered. But I mainly agreed because then I’d get to hear these songs long before release day, and as a huge fan, that was the real draw. Nor was I disappointed. Ross’s voice remains warm and involving, as passionate an instrument as a John Martyn or a Van Morrison has ever possessed.

Those aren’t just random names, by the way. When trying to describe Blue
Rose Code to people I hope will become fans, I mention Martyn and Morrison as reference points. Then those same friends may ask me: but what kind of music is it? It’s folk, I’ll say. But it’s got bits of country in it, and blues, and soul - maybe the Caledonian Soul of Van Morrison. Oh, but there’s a gospel spirituality to the music, too. And you’ll hear the occasional jazz solo, and extended musical ruminations that can feel more ethereal than any of the above.

And it all comes together in a sound that is filled with yearning, exploring love (of other people, yes, but of the Scottish landscape, too). It doesn’t need categorisation, does it? It’s just great music, beautiful music, music to make you think, and to lose yourself in. Sometimes it seems as if the listener is truly inside Ross’s head, sharing his hopes and dreams, his failings and personal insights, but without the lyrics ever becoming insular or self-absorbed, because the outside world is always present, shaping mood and outlook. Is Ross really in the tradition of the troubadour then, a romantically-inclined songwriter who prefers love songs to any other form, picking up all sorts of musical influences during his travels? Possibly. All I know is, this album makes my heart swell. Filled with emotion and yearning and exploration of Scotland inside and out, it’s a splendid edifice. Here’s to its architect!

Ian Rankin

All songs written by Ross Wilson apart from

track 4 written by Ross Wilson and Lyle Watt
track 10 written by Ross Wilson and John Lowrie

Players -

Over The Fields

Ross Ainslie - Whistle
Seonaid Aitken - First Violin
Graham Coe - Vox
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Kobus Frick - Second Violin
Emily Kelly - Vox
James Lindsay - Double Bass
John Lowrie - Piano
Liam Lynch - Viola
Beth Nielsen Chapman - Vox
Iain Sloan - Pedal Steel
Wild Lyle Watt - Electric Guitar
Ross Wilson - Vox
Eliza Wren Payne - Vox


Bluebell

Graham Coe - Vox
Emily Kelly - Vox
James Lindsay - Electric Bass
John Lowrie - Drums & Wurlitzer
Angus Lyon - Piano
Iain Sloan - Pedal Steel
Wild Lyle Watt - Mandolin
Ross Wilson - Electric Guitar & Vox
Konrad Wiszniewski - Saxophone
Eliza Wren Payne - Vox

Ebb & Flow

Graham Coe - Vox
Emily Kelly - Vox
James Lindsay - Electric Bass
John Lowrie - Drums, Percussion & Piano
Colin Steele - Trumpet
Wild Lyle Watt - Mandolin
Ross Wilson - Acoustic Guitar & Vox
Konrad Wiszniewski - Saxophone
Eliza Wren Payne - Vox

Passing Places

Seonaid Aitken - Violin
Angus Lyon - Accordion
Kathleen MacInnes - Vox
Wild Lyle Watt - Acoustic Guitar

Sandaig

Ross Ainslie - Whistle
Seonaid Aitken - Violin
James Lindsay - Double Bass
John Lowrie - Piano
Angus Lyon - Accordion
Kathleen MacInnes - Vox
Wild Lyle Watt - Electric Guitar
Ross Wilson - Acoustic Guitar & Vox


Nashville Blue

Seonaid Aitken - First Violin
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Kobus Frick - Second Violin
James Lindsay - Double Bass
John Lowrie - Drums & Piano
Liam Lynch - Viola
Colin Steele - Trumpet
Wild Lyle Watt - Electric Guitar
Ross Wilson - Vox


On The Hill Remains A Heart

Seonaid Aitken - First Violin
Ross Ainslie - Whistle & Pipes
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Kobus Frick - Second Violin
James Lindsay - Electric Bass
John Lowrie - Drums
Liam Lynch - Viola
Angus Lyon - Piano & Wurlitzer
Ross Wilson - Vox & Acoustic Guitar

Love Is...

Seonaid Aitken - Violin
Graham Coe - Vox
Julie Fowlis - Vox
Emily Kelly - Vox
James Lindsay - Double Bass
John Lowrie - Drums
Iain Sloan - Pedal Steel
Wild Lyle Watt - Mandolin & Acoustic Guitar
Ross Wilson - Acoustic Guitar & Vox

Polaris

Seonaid Aitken - First Violin
Graham Coe - Vox
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Kobus Frick - Second Violin
Emily Kelly - Vox
James Lindsay - Electric Bass
John Lowrie - Piano & Drums
Liam Lynch - Viola
Laura Danielle Sharp - Vox
Iain Sloan - Pedal Steel
Colin Steele - Trumpet
Wild Lyle Watt - Electric Guitar
Ross Wilson - Vox
Konrad Wiszniewski - Saxophone
Eliza Wren Payne - Vox

The Water

James Lindsay - Double Bass
John Lowrie - Piano
Colin Steele - Trumpet

To The Shore

Seonaid Aitken - First Violin
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Kobus Frick - Second Violin
James Lindsay - Double Bass
John Lowrie - Drums & Wurlitzer
Liam Lynch - Viola
Angus Lyon - Piano
Iain Sloan - Pedal Steel
Colin Steele - Trumpet
Wild Lyle Watt - Electric Guitar
Ross Wilson - Vox
Konrad Wiszniewski - Saxophone

Child

Seonaid Aitken - First Violin
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Kobus Frick - Second Violin
John Lowrie - Piano
Liam Lynch - Viola
Ross Wilson - Vox
Konrad Wiszniewski - Saxophone


Produced By Ross Wilson
Co-produced By Angus Lyon
Engineered By Angus Lyon
Additional Engineering by Graham Coe, Cameron Malcolm, Richard Werner

Mixed By Iain Hutchison
Mastered By Calum Malcolm