The astonishing ‘Moving On’ deals with loss in a most beautiful and deeply affecting way, while also approaching death itself as a beginning of another chapter, including the possibility of meeting loved ones again in another life.
The mechanical beats and trance synths provide a tantalising backdrop to Booth’s lyrics on ‘Curse Curse’, effortlessly demonstrating his wonderful way with words, and setting out the scene imaginatively to another fine melody. It builds in captivating fashion over the course of its glorious seven minutes, rising up to a storming crescendo lit up by Andy Diagram‘s joyous trumpet and Saul Davis‘s urgent, red hot fiddle that truly set the senses alight. Although it’s largely based around a few easy chords, it’s Booth’s bewitching vocal lines and the band’s way of interpreting melodies that make it what it is. It comes alive immediately with the sensational ‘Walk Like You”s dramatic keyboard intro and moodily defiant atmosphere. Over 30 years into their career, and James are making some of their best music. As a result of reconnecting with each other, this is a set of songs that succeeds in capturing their seismic live energy. A definite rejuvenation also coincides with the group all recording together again, following two mini albums from 2010 which involved the band members sending each other their individual ideas to work on. But ‘La Petite Mort’ never sounds morbid, and although it’s sometimes dark, sad and thought provoking, it’s actually an inspiring, uplifting and euphoric piece of work that (amongst other things) looks at the idea that death may not be the end.
Overwhelming emotions can bring something out from the soul, leading to rich flows of inspiration that can translate into powerful artistic expression. She had kept her cancer from me, and I didn’t get to say goodbye. It was a quite beautiful experience, euphoric it felt like a birth. “They were two very opposite experiences,” says Booth, “my mother died in my arms at the age of 90. It was written after frontman Tim Booth had to come to terms with the deaths of both his mother and one of his closest friends, experiences that have shaped and influenced the themes and tones of this elevating new record. ‘La Petite Mort’ is the 11th full-length effort from Manchester indie legends James, and their first new material in four years.
Plus the first part of my musical memories from 1996… Philipson, Dan Lyth, Morrissey, Jurassic 5, Cherry Ghost, Royal Blood, The Sunshine Underground and Savages. As well as those, brand new music from The Phantom Band, Public Service Broadcasting, Metamono, Towns, P.J.
An absolutely packed column this week, which looks at new albums from James, The Horrors, Plaid and Spearmint.