Thanks to their recent album 'All The Colours of You', English rock band James have now released music in 5 decades. The currently-9-piece band's output is astonishingly consistent, and they show no sign of stopping. The Mic's Maia Gibbs discusses James' follow up EP to 'All The Colours of You', titled 'The Campfire EP'.
Manchester icons James recently released an intimate collection rerecording’s with their new The Campfire EP. The name derives what Tim Booth described as ‘a slice of magic’ from the bands sessions at Broughton Hall, earlier this year. James transports us to a campfire on an autumn night, the EP feeling like a group of friends singing familiar favourites (those favourites being three songs from their latest album All The Colours of You and an oldie but goodie 1999’s Just Like Fred Astaire).
The Campfire EP is beautifully seasonal, being notably inspired by the Yorkshire Dales and seclusion of lockdown. The stripped back versions of Miss America; Recover and Magic Bus offer a peaceful seclusion. A musical equivalent to a country getaway.
"Booth’s tender vocals, Chloe Alper’s harmonies, and the sensitivity of the instrumentation twist the song into an unnerving lamentation."
Despite this self-proclaimed campfire ‘magic’ the EP is incredibly thoughtful and feeling, being birthed from both the political and personal experiences of James in the last few years. The tracks prove to be incredibly contemporary - a memory box of our time.
Miss America starts off the EP, recorded and filmed in a stately library. James offers an eery concoction of peacefulness and fear. Being one of the more political tracks of All The Colours of You, Miss America looks at modern America’s bias, cultural prejudices, and violence. The song is strung together by an allegory to the famous pageant shows Donald Trump formally hosted. The gripping and dark lyrics are offset by the new stripped-back gentleness of the re-recording. Booth’s tender vocals, Chloe Alper’s harmonies, and the sensitivity of the instrumentation twist the song into an unnerving lamentation. Compared to its angry original it is more mournful, the two songs contrasting and complementing each other to show the variety of feelings surrounding America’s stormy political atmosphere.
Miss America is followed by Recover. Again another sorrowful track, dealing with Booth’s loss his father-in-law, Saville Shela due to Covid-19. The singer reflects on the pain of being separated by the Atlantic Ocean and the virus, a sense of longing being felt throughout. It will undoubtedly be poignant to many of us who have felt the great losses and sadness of the pandemic, it’s effects still lingering. This feeling of grief is shown through Booth’s exceptionally raw delivery. He asks questions many of us will have asked – “Will he get better?” or the heart-breaking hopefulness of the line “Just a chill, sore throat”.
Don’t worry too much about this sadness though! The other half of the album acts as hope to the defeat.
Magic Bus, as one could guess by the name, brings some joy to the album. Originally an electronic track, the stripped back instrumentals offer a fun, pounding drum beat. This is definitely the most ‘campfire’ of The Campfire EP. James’ use of percussions perfectly match the wilderness and freedom the EP is attempting to achieve. It acts as a rest-bite, a thrilling flicker of hope to the more solemn tracks on the album.
And last but certainly not least, the band reimagine a fan favourite with Just Like Fred Astaire. It is a perfect finisher for the EP. Being jam-packed with the ruminations on the hardships of recent years, the use of this familiar love song brings a sense of peace and much-needed nostalgia to the listeners. James’ give themselves a challenge trying to beat the nearly impeccable original, yet Booth and Alper’s intertwined vocals give us a sense of romance and emotion that arguably top the Millionaire’s hit.
Overall The Campfire EP is a victory and will be a welcomed as little treat to fans and new listeners alike. James takes us on a journey of emotions, memories, thoughts and some necessary, if not sensitive reflection.
Written by: Maia Gibbs
Edited by: Elliot Fox
In article images courtesy of James via Facebook. Video courtesy of James via Youtube.
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