Nov/Dec 2010 issue of R2 Magazine

Heres the Blackwaterside Video

A review from Scottish Sunday broadsheet, The Sunday Herald 17/10/10

Doghouse Roses: The Broken Key (Yellowroom)

Alan Morrison
Share   0 comments

25 Oct 2010

Folk-rock with Americana shadings from Paul Tasker and Iona Macdonald.

Guitarist Paul Tasker and singer Iona Macdonald claim they formed Doghouse Roses “after one too many nights drinking red wine and listening to Pentangle, Fairport Convention and Gillian Welch records”. The truth of this is obvious on their second album (the musical influences, that is; not the late-night drinking), which adds further textures to the string arrangements scattered across their debut, How’ve You Been (All This Time). Macdonald has been dogged by comparisons to Sandy Denny (but there are worse names to be called), and here her wonderfully expressive voice is the perfect counterpart to Tasker’s intricate finger-picking. Even within the expanded band line-up, this is a two-person show, and the impression is that a few years of near-constant touring have fashioned Tasker and Macdonald into a completely balanced unit. The folk-rock sound of the early 1970s is still the main reference point, but the jaunty blues of opener Atonement, the wonderful Americana vocal harmonies of Blue Moon On The Mountain, and the Bert Jansch colourings on The Highwayman, offer other musical routes.

From Get Ready to Rock

DOGHOUSE ROSES This Broken Key Yellowroom Music (2010)

Doghouse Roses

'This Broken Key' by Scotland's Doghouse Roses is a perfect example of the ever closer convergence of British Folk Music with Americana. And while the two genre's will always offer two sharply distinguishable strands, Doghouse Roses (in spite of their use of a Steve Earl title for their name) bring a bristling self confidence to bear on impressive narratives, beautiful singing and some fine band interplay. Above all there's core balance between the voice of Iona MacDonald, guitarist Paul Tasker and an array of impressive original material that will give any self respecting Americana artist a run for their money.