Friday 06.06.08: JAMES (FROM THE UK, SEMI-ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE) WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SKY PARADE, EVAN SLAMKA (FROM MARJORIE FAIR)

JAMES || Listen
Tunes slowly build to a shuffling beat before the soaring melodies irresistibly take flight, propelled by trademark jangling guitar, brass flourishes and Booth’s soaring, passionate vocals. The ebullient front man has also retained his gift for erudite if occasionally silly lyrics, with White Boy’s ”my mum says I look like Yul Brynner, too old for Hamlet, too young for Lear” the most memorable example.

Other stand out moments include the strident title track, which blends a typically effervescent hook with some uncompromising anti-war imagery, and Waterfall, curiously akin to Blonde On Blonde-period Dylan with a sugar rush. Boom Boom’s atmospheric guitars bring to mind fellow Mancunians Doves, although a self-indulgent Adagio For Strings-apeing interlude is one of the few bum notes to be found on Hey Ma. Overall, this is an impressive return to form from a group who continue to craft their own distinctive brand of understated, uplifting rock while those Sit Down sixth-formers contemplate thirty something paunches, mortgages and antenatal classes.
- BBC

with:
Sky Parade
Evan Slamka (from Marjorie Fair)