James Yorkston - When The Haar Rolls In (Domino)
3/5
By: Charlie Bradford
BUY DOWNLOAD
My first question when I picked up this album was 'who is James Yorkston?'. The second, of course, was 'what is 'Haar''?
If the case is the same for you then it's your lucky day, as I am going to answer them both. James Yorkston is a singer songwriter from Fife who started out as bassist for punk band Miraclehead, before a gigantic and timely realisation that punk was maybe not for him. He is now firmly in the folk category, his work was picked up by John Peel and since he has done all sorts of things working with many renowned artists of the craft - John Martyn, Burt Jansch and the like. And Haar? It's a thick, wet fog along the sea coast.
This is James' fourth album, and it is one of passion, beauty, life and very long songs. Second track 'Tortoise Regrets Hare' manages to incorporate all these aspects best at a moderate 4 and a half minutes. Title track 'When The Haar Rolls In' reminds me slightly of Kimya Dawson, the ex-Moldy Peach responsible for the majority of the Juno soundtrack. It's a funny and heart felt tune with a series of musical interludes, with Yorkston backed ably by his backing band of Athletes - Faisal (Percussion/Harmonium/Lap Steel), Reuben (Accordion/Concertina/Piano) and Doogie (Double Bass/banjo).
Standout track 'Midnight Feast' has a sense of grandeur about it, starting slow and heartfelt, the assortments of soft instruments are gently added to with a violin providing a maudlin quality while drama is provided through the harmony of voices that conjure images of a person desperately racing to find his lover.
Yet while I can appreciate the obvious beauty to it, there's no avoiding the fact that overall When The Haar Rolls In is just a little slow, and hardly uplifting. The album title references a descending fog, and I have to say that as I finish this album there is a sense of being surrounded by Yorkston's own brand of musical mist. But there's a magic in that, if you want to find it.
Artists in this article: James Yorkston
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment