The Athletes Are On Track
Domino has loads of artists who write songs with a traditional air. James Yorkston and the Athletes are no exception. With a very folky feel, this album reminds me of Jim O'Rourke. Yorkston's voice compliments the beautiful string arrangements. The delicately picked guitar and banjo is a theme throughout the album and gives 'Just Beyond the River' an altogether Celtic feel.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy folk music for tank-top wearing Geography teachers. Quite the opposite! This is a very modern take on acoustic music. James Yorkston and the Athletes' sound varies from the opening tracks "Heron" and "Shipwreckers", with Irish sounding vocals à la Christie Moore and Planxty, to some distinctly Lou Reed Moments. Indeed, "This Time Tomorrow" sounds like Beck circa the "Mutations" album. The Athletes achieve these subtle fluctuations in style whilst simultaneously having an edge that is very much their own.
The instrumentation is glorious. It makes you appreciate the beauty of the instruments themselves. Before now I'd not really enjoyed the unique colours of a banjo and I'd deplored the "vile-din" (violin)! Yorkston's voice is applied as an additional instrument. His words used in a pointed and rhythmic fashion. This is poery in motion and I think, unfortunately, that there are few musicians who can regard themselves as poets except for maybe Nick Cave and the legendary Leonard Cohen. (Jim Morrison - Ed.)
Though perhaps not the type of music Room Thirteen readers would normally listen to, I ask you dear reader, not to dismiss it. The Athletes are quite the artisans and their music sounds like the method in which, (I imagine), it was written. Tenderly and delicately, you can hear the attention that Yorkston and pals has lavished on every note, every pluck of a string, every bow of the violin and every aptly chosen word.
Listening to "Just Beyond the River" conjures up an image of medieval days . The luxury of reading and writing being resigned to the upper classes, learning was done via fables and song. Education took place as a crowd gathered round a storyteller and musicians. As the gentle first notes began, a scene was created against which the storytelling was done and knowledge was passed from one generation to another.
James Yorkston and the Athletes are just such people. This album demands...no...beckons you to sit still and listen for there is knowledge and gifts to be shared.