James – Living In Extraordinary Times (Out August 3rd 2018 via BMG)
When standing on a hill, enjoying an early foray, in the August of 1990, to The Garden Party at Crystal Palace Bowl, thoroughly engrossed by James alongside Lush, All About Eve playing throughout a bright sunny enriching afternoon, before headliners The Cure, shone. Did not think Tim Booth and Co. decades later are due to release their 15th studio album, but it terms of discourse, emotion, songwriting and feel since those days, confident James made a good choice.
New album ‘Living In Extraordinary Times’ was produced by Mercury and Brit Award winner Charlie Andrew whose previous work includes alt-J and Wolf Alice] and rising star Beni Giles.
‘Living In Extraordinary Times’ follows the release of their recent gem, ‘Better Than That’ EP, the band’s first new music since their hugely successful 2016 album ‘Girl At The End Of The World’, which debuted at #2 in the UK album charts, second only to Adele and their highest debut entry in nearly twenty years.
Tim Booth said: “We knew something was up when Leicester city won the league then Brexit, then Trump. It’s as if we’d slipped into an alternate reality, a Philip K Dick reality. We are living in extraordinary times.”
The album started life during jam sessions at Sheffield’s Yellow Arch Studios and was finished at Iguana Studios in Brixton. Beni Giles was already working with the band on creating a new rhythmical approach when Charlie Andrew joined the project after being blown away by the band live. “This album is full of big tunes,” Charlie states. “Tim and the guys are all very good at writing huge hooks. There’s some really big, energetic tracks and some nice, chilled ones; and there are some monstrous tracks, like Hank, which is just vast with layers and layers of drums”.
Previous single ‘Hank’ taken from ‘Better Than That’ EP, showcases the dark to light and most shades in-between, many things resonate, like the powerful ‘Coming Home (Pt. 2)’, after two singles, working with Charlie Andrew and experience gained by the 7-piece, they sound on the front foot, ‘Leviathan’ and ‘Many Faces’ sound strong and healthy.
On ‘How Hard The Day’ express a darker moods, the song drips with imagined emotion when heard, not exactly juxapostioned but the opening narrative of ‘Extraordinary Times’ cuts short my hackneyed attempt at the enthral, it’s like mentally being slapped by a wet fish, coming to terms with being an earth boy and laughing about it. (easily pleased)
‘Hope To Sleep’ impresses, a shoe in as an aural backdrop if Channel 4 make another Electric Dreams series. ‘Picture This Place’ is another empowered display.
Then to the ace ‘Better Than That’ which immediately has me thinking of power points, outside a party political conference to accommodate a towered-soundsytem, the former Factory Records band as a morning call as ‘delegates’ arrive also to see if tories cab actually dance.
Followed by ‘Mask’ with a niffty keyboard pattern accompanies a past relationship breakdown before a postscript is delivered, whilst ‘What’s It All About’ closes the 12 track album with gusto.
As one of the UK’s most expressive and creative bands, it should come as no surprise yet another writer sings their praises, just a little staggered at James versatility, energy and quality in 2018, another chapter, hope there is so much more to enjoy in years to come. Another statement, as if it was needed. 8.4/10
Steve Janes
TRACKLISTING
HANK
COMING HOME (PT.2)
LEVIATHAN
HEADS
MANY FACES
HOW HARD THE DAY
EXTRAORDINARY TIMES
PICTURE OF THIS PLACE
HOPE TO SLEEP
BETTER THAN THAT
MASK
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT
BACKWARD GLANCES | Bonus Track on Hardback Booked Deluxe CD
MOVING CAR | Demo on Hardback Booked Deluxe CD
OVERDOSE | Demo on Hardback Booked Deluxe CD
TROUBLE | Demo on Hardback Booked Deluxe CD
LIVING IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES will be available on CD, download, cassette and heavyweight double vinyl, plus a hardback booked deluxe CD featuring 4 extra tracks – three demos plus one track from the album sessions. HMV and independent stores will also stock a limited grey gatefold package featuring double magenta coloured vinyl.
Exclusive signed bundles and a limited yellow gatefold package featuring double white coloured vinyl are available via the artist store. Pre-order link: https://jamesofficial.lnk.to/LivingPR
JAMES recently played a seven-date sold out UK tour, revisiting intimate venues across the country, and headlined the Common People Festivals in Southampton and Oxford. They’re now preparing for a string of performances at summer festivals across the UK and Europe including Bilbao BBK Live in Spain as follows:
JULY
Fri 27 KENDAL Kendal Calling Festival
AUGUST
Sat 11 LITHLINGOW Party at The Palace | HEADLINE
Sat 18 SCARBOROUGH Open Air Theatre | HEADLINE
Thu 30 DUMFRIES Electric Fields | HEADLINE
WEBSITE: www.wearejames.com
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TWITTER: https://twitter.com/wearejames
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/WeAreJamesTV