Rose Elinor Dougall - Find Me Out

The vocal talent in Brighton’s The Pipettes was always going to take something of their sound with her into any solo project. The danger with a voice so distinctive is in being indistinct from previous work. Luckily Rose Elinor Dougall avoids this pitfall and delivers something much gentler and woozier than The Pipettes would ever have managed, or even attempted. With this side to her former group gone it becomes even less of a surprise that they’ve “gone disco”.

‘Find Me Out’ then, is a wonderful single that manages to be quietly complex in it’s music and direct and simple in the emotional message. The double bass provides a jazzy feel and means that the tone feels grounded and earthly whilst melodically there’s a plethora of distinctly non-rock instruments; most noticeably woodwind. On paper this may come across as some middle-of-the-road guilty pleasure but, rather it’s a pretty, quiet pop song that floats on the periphery of the conciousness, in much the same way as the latest She & Him record does.

Lyrically and emotionally, as we’ve said it’s quiet, simple and direct, centring around feeling inadequate for your partner; something it’s easy to identify with. “I know you see the best in me but darling there’s just not much left of it” is the stand out lyric, and delivered by Rose’s evocative and beautiful singing voice it’s difficult to dismiss.

With the quality of releases like this it’s great that Rose Elinor Dougall is taking her time in producing a debut solo album. When one finally does come let’s hope that it’s up to the standard set by ‘Find Me Out’.