Rose Elinor Dougall – A New Illusion

Rose Elinor Dougall is Human! Not the Deity that a second flawless album in two years would have suggested!
Don’t get me wrong. New Illusion is a genuinely great Once inTwo Years Event. Its songs are beautifully organic , rich and yes, sexy. Its predecessor Stellular is as close to a perfect female voiced record as you will find, but it is basically an Electronic piece with drum machine beats to the fore. This is different altogether. Real instruments have been recorded in a studio and a real voice is presented over them . Folk Pop for the Modern era? Well maybe.
A personal note. This record makes me Very Happy. My discovery of this Artist I have detailed elsewhere, and to see her produce such a mature and satisfying piece of work is very gratifying. I feel personally provided for and not let down by it. Rose’s secret is that she is honest and not fake , this isnt a Pop Project , its Self made music put out for genuine enjoyment.
First thing you notice. This is not a dance record. Of the 10 tracks, only 2 have any pace. That’s a brave move after a career full of energetic stimulating tunes. Maybe there is one slow number too many , side 2 does not leave you in a rapturous haze like Stellular does. Instead it gently leads you to a mood where sensible thoughts may enter your brain, you may even make a nice cup of tea . New Illusion is packed with memorable melodies and wonderful hooks. “Echoes”and “Where the trouble started” have more than most albums put together and they are only the openers here. What they do is set you up for 8 more of Rose’s aural paintings. You happily move from one to the next, senses stimulated in the way they are by all great art. “Something real” and “Christina in red” are particular high moments, but there are many others. “Too much of not enough ” is perhaps revealingly introspective.
New Illusion is also made with Love. I know how long it took to make and how much care went into it, but if I hadn’t have known that, it is made obvious to me. And this is where you can’t go wrong as an artist, because that Love will always shine through. Of course the subject matter helps. Songs affectionately written about friends, family and lovers will always, if written honestly, hit home in a big way. Because we are all , like Rose Elinor Dougall, human after all.