Our Song of the Day is ‘Shallow’, taken from James Yorkston‘s new album The Route to the Harmonium – due for release on Feb 22nd 2019 via Domino. It’s a very personal album which finds him reflecting not just on the past and those departed but also the impact upon those left behind:
“I guess, as a musician and writer, I find myself reacting to what goes on around. So, this album is about life, the life that carries on around me. There’s family, place, and the being away from family that the life of a touring musician brings… But there’s also reference to friends departed – the hows, the whys – When a friend jumps ship it’s always a haymaker to the gut, you know? And this album is about them, but it’s more about us, us who are left behind…”
On Shallow, those thoughts are very present “There are years, there are still years, that could have been ours…”. That reflection on times gone by, times missed, times that are no longer possible is beautifully captured throughout the video by Sam Wisternoff – From childhood to old age, there are glimpses of the past, a memorial bench, a church, and strong dream-like visuals which touch on emotions many of us keep hidden. Watching it, you can almost feel the burden, one weighed down by regrets and then there are moments of peace and release – as an old man lays looking up at crows dancing across the sky while a jazzy horn interlude plays. The combination of music and film is very touching and emotional.
The album was almost entirely recorded by James himself, in the small Scottish fishing village of Cellardyke, where he lives. Yorkston’s studio is a ramshackle old loft space, originally used to repair fisherman’s nets, and now stuffed full the antique instruments James has collected throughout his life as a musician. Having created hours of recordings, James called up his old collaborator David Wrench – the mixer and producer who has worked with the likes of Caribou, Four Tet, Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs and David Byrne – and someone who has worked on James’ albums since 2003 – to help make sense of the sessions.
The Route to the Harmonium is available to pre–order on Dom Mart-exclusive green vinyl (w/ signed poster), deluxe green vinyl (w/ poster), standard vinyl (w/ poster), CD and digitally. Pre-order: Dom Mart | Digital
In-Stores
24 February Bristol Rough Trade / Live set + Q&A with Paul McGuinness
25 February Nottingham Rough Trade
26 February London Rough Trade East / Live set + Q&A with David Wrench
Upcoming James Yorkston live shows
1st April – Perth Theatre, Perth
2nd May – Summerhall, Edinburgh Tickets
3rd May – Òran Mór, Glasgow Tickets
4th May – Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine Tickets
5th May – Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe Tickets
6th May – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds Tickets
7th May – Islington Assembly Hall, London Tickets
8th May – Reading Arts Centre, Reading Tickets
9th May – Gallery, Milton Keynes Tickets
10th May – Dukes, Lancaster Tickets
11th May – Launderette, Durham Tickets
13th May – Louisiana, Bristol Tickets
14th May – The Moon, Cardiff Tickets
15th May – The King’s Arms, Manchester Tickets
16th May – Trades Hall, Hebden Bridge Tickets
24th May – Tolbooth, Stirling Tickets
Upcoming Yorkston/Thorne/Khan live shows
Fri 25th January 2019 – Coughlan’s, Cork
Sat 26th January 2019 – Phil Grimes, Waterford
Tickets
Photo Credit: Ren Rox