Is Yorkston beginning to shy away from his alt-country/new folk roots?
Singer and guitarist James Yorkston left his home in Fife aged seventeen, moving to Edinburgh to indulge in the hardcore pleasures of garage-punk band Huckleberry. However, it wasn't long before his alter ego (the subtle alt-country-meets-new folk solo singer songwriter) overpowered him; from there followed his debut album, 'Moving Up Country' in 2002, before the appearance of 'Just Beyond the River' in 2004. Showing no signs of slowing, Yorkston awaits the release of his third album, 'Year of the Leopard'. The first single from which is the rather lovely 'Steady As She Goes'.
'Steady As She Goes' begins with pretty picked acoustic guitar, muffled bass, shuffling drums and warbling organ sounds before the subtle vocals begin, drawing the song together into a swirling, hazy whole. Majestic strings drift in and out alongside a momentary hit of harmonica and a twinkling flicker of acoustic guitar to create a warm, textured song with a blurry, but nevertheless, relatively catchy melody.
The Dolphin Boy remix of 'Summer Song', however, has a slightly misleading title, as with its decisive drum beats and frosty echo, it has an ambient, almost chill out sound that feels far from warm and summery, and takes a giant leap away from Yorkston's alt-country and new folk labels.
The album 'The Year of the Leopard' will be released on 25th September, followed by a full UK tour in throughout October.