Artist: James Yorkston
Album: I Was A Cat From A Book
Bitrate: 213kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Domino Records
Genre: Folk
Size: 61.16 megs
PlayTime: 0h 38min 23sec total
Rip Date: 2012-08-18
Store Date: 2012-08-21
Track List:
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01. Catch 3:34
02. Kath With Rodes 4:16
03. Border Song 2:37
04. This Line Says 3:59
05. Just As Scared 3:20
06. Sometimes The Act Of Giving 3:03
Love
07. The Fire & The Flames 5:14
08. A Short Blues 3:36
09. Spanish Ants 2:54
10. Two 2:47
11. I Can Take All This 3:03
Release Notes:
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Four years on from When the Haar Rolls In -- the East Fife, Scotland-born
artistÆs previous album of self-penned material -- I Was a Cat from a Book finds
the creative and ever exploratory James Yorkston in pensive mood following his
young daughterÆs recovery from a serious illness. Named after her description of
a vivid dream, it contains some of YorkstonÆs most honest and soul-searching
lyrics to date and directly follows the ten-year anniversary of his acclaimed
debut, 2002Æs Moving Up Country. While the journey from Country to Haar saw him
develop from a tentative but assured bedsit romantic to the accomplished
Dylanesque lyricist of the latter albumÆs title track, here itÆs YorkstonÆs
controlled and masterful lightness of touch which helps him deal with topics
that could have felt overly intense in the hands of others. Recorded -- like
each of his previous long-players -- at the familiar Bryn Derwen Studios, his
North Wales studio of choice, on this release he is joined by a new cast of
musicians including LambÆs Jon Thorne on double-bass and the Cinematic
OrchestraÆs Luke Flowers on drums. When these two players effortlessly lock in
with John EllisÆ piano on the tender opener ôCatch,ö itÆs clear that the trio
are more than comfortable in each otherÆs company. ThereÆs a timeless quality to
the instrumental breaks of this track in particular that recalls Island RecordsÆ
folk-meets-jazz albums of the early æ70s such as Nick DrakeÆs Bryter Layter.
However, by the time youÆve heard the brooding Kathryn Williams collaboration --
the functionally titled ôKath with Rhodesö -- and the breakneck-speed ôBorder
Songö -- itÆs also clear that you're listening to an artist who is willing to
take risks. ThereÆs a thread of anger that runs through these songs, but this is
curtailed and tempered by the many lyrical declarations of fear that arise on
tracks such as the Jill OÆSullivan duet ôJust as Scaredö and the understandably
claustrophobic ôThe Fire and the Flames.ö In turn, these ruminations are never
overbearing for the listener, as even the gentle, seemingly self-analytical gem
ôA Short Bluesö is instilled with imagery of hope and ônothing but the sun.ö
Ultimately, in I Was a Cat from a Book, Yorkston has delivered a measured, wise,
and life-affirming record, which has the power to inspire.