James Yorkston
Photo By:Nathan Seabrook
When the Haar Rolls In - James Yorkston Album Review
Album Review
Having toured with John Martyn a few years back and released several albums and one-off singles, you could be forgiven for dispensing Mr Yorkston as an eccentric who doesn't play by the rules by playing folk-tinged songs about cider and hares to audiences at cardigan-wearing festivals - and you'd be right to a point. This makes him all the more absorbing though and hundreds would have no doubt lapped him up at The Roundhouse recently where I'm sure he unleashed these songs with an intensity that befits these personal and poignant songs. Vocally, he reminds me of Momus, Arab Strap and Al Stewart in equal turns particularly on "Tortoise Regrets Hare" and the sympathetic reading of Lal Waterson's "Midnight Feast" - in fact the whole album represents the reflective end of folk without getting all fey and whimsical. Some of the album falls short of the mark, basically for being just a bit too wordy and rambling (the title track for one), but overall a worthy set if this is your bag.
Gigs
- Mon 24th Nov 2008
- Tue 25th Nov 2008
- Thu 11th Dec 2008
- Wed 17th Dec 2008
- Fri 22nd May 2009
