Fear not. Simon is back! His new album A State Of Mind drops on
Friday 13 October, and as ever we have had a copy in advance to have a listen
to. The question is then - was it worth
the wait? We were excited to find out…
Well, the simple answer is
yes. Simon has always added a certain UK
edge to country music. Unashamedly a
Northern Man, his songwriting reflects this, by not trying to be an imitation of
American country writers and performers.
Instead, his stories and imagery are real, recognisable and they draw
you in. In terms of the sound, there are
influences of folk in there, perhaps some Celtic vibes – you get the feeling
that Simon presents you with his music and says, “here it is, this is me”. Defying a specific label, just sit back and
enjoy the music. This latest album in
particular feels very warm and comforting, like a malt whisky and a log fire in
winter. As you listen to the tracks, you
will feel the music wash over you, as you just appreciate the tones, the words
and especially the instrumentation, with his guitar augmented by strings, drums,
piano, and some great backing vocals!
When we last saw Simon play he was on stage with just his acoustic
guitar, but this album would be ideal to be played live with a full orchestra –
just an idea for you Simon!
So, is there a standout
track? In reality, this album should be
seen as a body of work and listened to right through, but it would be wrong not
to pull out a couple of highlights! The
title track – State Of Mind - opens the album with a very attention
grabbing multi-instrumental intro. After
three years we have to wait almost a full minute before hearing Simons wonderful
vocal – but in a way that is Simons expert stagecraft transferred to the
recording studio. Even if you were to
get no further than this one track, you know you’re listening to Simon James
and his absence has only improved his sound, with an extra level of maturity to
it. It is truly music for music’s sake –
as any art should be.
But do listen to the rest of
the album, if only to reach Breakers Song! It is possible that this one song
encapsulates the album and indeed Simon’s music. Guitar to open, strings and piano joining
before Simon’s voice starts to tell the story.
Mixing a soft delivery with a soaring chorus, Simon is joined by Heidi
Talbot in that chorus before Heidi takes over for a full verse. Their two voices combine and complement each
other perfectly, with Heidi adding that almost mystical Celtic quality. A Harmonica brings a new edge as a bridge
before a gentle crescendo – if there can be such a thing!
Though we’ve missed hearing
Simon’s music over these past few years, we are thrilled to see him performing
live and writing new music. Whatever
comes next, this album is a testament to his songwriting and his craft.
Welcome back Simon.
A State Of Mind, the new album from Simon James, is available to download and stream from Friday 13 October.
You can find Simon on Facebook and Instagram, and you can follow him on Spotify
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