JAMES Vinilo y CD

Review: The 18th album from James, whose career spans over four decades, emerging in the C86 era of indie, coming to prominence as part of the Madchester movement but establishing and holding onto a loyal fan base and critical acclaim with their unique blend of alternative rock and dream pop. The band work in unique ways to keep things fresh and this is no exception, bringing us "the tracks that didn't make it to the next stage" before now. A significant milestone in their musical journey, showcasing the band's continued evolution and creative prowess, it encapsulates a wide range of emotions and themes, exploring personal experiences, societal issues and the human condition. James' distinct songwriting style is evident throughout, with thoughtful lyrics and introspective reflections, while musically, the album features the band's signature atmospheric soundscapes, ethereal melodies and intricate guitar work.

Review: Studio album number three from mighty Manchester icons James could not come soon enough back in 1990. In the run up to the grand unveiling, we'd had outright anthem 'Sit Down' released as a single during summer 1989, a rousing bombshell of a track that still kicks today, and at the time suggested something very special was waiting in the wings for fans, and legions of new recruits the band were garnering.

When Gold Mother finally landed the reception was understandable - not least when we look back at the group's storied career to date. As a record, this might be the highest concentration of James' best songs you'll find anywhere, with tracks like 'Come Home' and 'How Was It For You' helping secure a place among the finest long players of the 1990s.

Review: To mark the 40th anniversary of their band, James have put together this special album, Be Opened By The Wonderful. It is a 20-track affair that collects some of much loved British group's most loved and rare tracks, all wonderfully re-imagined with an eight-piece choir and a 22-piece orchestra who breathe new life into the originals. The album was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester and was orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddel and it features the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir. Tracks like 'We're Gonna Miss You,' 'Someone's Got It In For Me' and 'Hymn From A Village' all feature.

Review: "We're all about to die, that's the truth; quit measuring time by money and youth." James have never struggled with attention grabbing lyrics, but the opener to their 16th studio album in four decades certainly isn't backwards at coming forwards, a particularly crude but effective poetic truth setting the tone for the record that follows, and defining the mood of the era in which it was made. Yep, this is another (part) pandemic production.

Ideas of claustrophobia, pressure and intense anxiety are all over many of the tracks, but the focus goes well beyond the healthcare crisis alone. The title number, for example, looks Stateside, where singer Tim Booth lived for years, taking on the Trump years and civil unrest, class wars and more in its stride, while elsewhere we have forest fires and personal tragedy to contend with. Heavy stuff, all wrapped up in a highly musical, incredibly infectious but also overtly theatrical northern indie package.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Damage to spine, otherwise in perfect condition***

- 20cm split along top edge of spine