To call James Yorkston a folk singer is to miss the point by some distance and the fact that among his influences he lists Can, Jacques Brel and Linton Kwesi Johnson tells you something about the diverse and innovative approach he brings to the form. One review of his first album, with backing group the Athletes, Moving Up Country stated “James Yorkston is the real deal” and that simple judgment says a lot more than any attempt to classify or describe his work.
James Yorkston first appeared on record in 2001 under the pseudonym J Wright Presents, with the “Moving Up Country, Roaring the Gospel” single, a track that later appeared in a very different version on the first album, which was released on Domino in late 2002 and was mixed mostly by former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde, with some intervention from Kenny Anderson, aka Ki
ng Creosote . By then, James had released a number of singles and a track on Anderson’s Fence Collective Sampler.
Shortly after the release of the album, James’ first Peel session was broadcast and there followed an EP of traditional folk songs (Someplace Simple) before the release of the second album, Just Beyond the River, in 2004. On this, songs like “Shipwreckers” revealed something of the dynamism that lurks within Yorkston’s best work, and that is unleashed to an often surprising degree in live performances. A later b-side featured a cover version of Tim Buckley’s “Song to the Siren” and, like Buckley, Yorkston can range from pretty to powerful within the same track both live and on record. Unlike Buckley’s terrific vocal range, James achieves this more with the vast scope and temporal variations of his music, both individually and with the Athletes.
Here is the short biography from his site: http://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk/
BIOGRAPHY
James Yorkston
James is originally from Fife, but now lives in Edinburgh.
Here are 10 records what he likes -
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Tings an' Times
Michael Hurley - Sweetkorn
Jacques Brel - Brel
Leo Ferre - Le Temps De Roses Rouges
Anne Briggs - Classic
D'Gary - Mbo Loza
Can - Tago Mago
Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight - Once In A Blue Moon
Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs
John Strachan - Songs From Aberdeenshire
The Athletes:
The Athletes are a nice bunch of people who James met at different times in different Edinburgh pubs...they are a versatile lot, and do whatever is required to get the job done. Everyone sings and is multi talented, but here is what they do most...
Faisal - Percussion/Harmonium/Lap Steel
Reuben - Accordion/Concertina/Piano
Holly - Small Pipes/Whistle
Doogie - Double Bass/banjo
Wendy - Violin
John Bews - Violin
The Guests
James has lots of friends who play on his records...some of them are:
Lone Pigeon
King Creosote
Rob Armstrong
Stu Bastiman
Simon Raymonde
All text is copyrighted 2004 - James Yorkston and The Athletes
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