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The Windmill, Brixton
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Single Review

James Yorkston
Hoopoe Houston Party Records

Article written by Ged M - Nov 20, 2005

Like his fellow members of the Fence Collective, there seems to be no great career plan for James, no �album - tour - appearance on Jools Holland - album� hamster wheel. Instead he and his Athletes pop up when they�ve got something to say or do: a mail order live album, one-off gigs or just sitting in on a gig by another member of the Collective. It just feels right - a musician in charge of his destiny.

This 6 track EP discharges a promise he made to excellent Spanish independent label Houston Party Records following the release of �Just Across The River�. It�s full of bucolic folk gentleness, his heart worn on his sleeve. �Awoke� is a gorgeous love song of quiet desperation: �dare I say/ dare I hope/ dare I ask/ when you awoke, you think of me?�. He covers the old ballad �Sir Patrick Spens� with humour and pathos, the story of a stitched-up non-sailor that was also covered by Fairport Convention. Finest track is the folky version of �Heron�, which starts quietly and gently builds and builds until it explodes in a burst of Caledonian soul.

In �The Sea Song� James sings �I�m no sailor, no adventurer� but he steers his own steady course and for that reason we should all sign up for the voyage.

Links:
http://www.houstonpartyrecords.com