:: Pleased To Meet You

James

A long-serving band with a tendency to reach in and out of the commercial world, James has been a unique band. They will just arrive on the scene unexpectedly to produce attentive, riveting music. This album shapes up well as another understated, melodic set of tracks in trademark James form. You will remember their big hit “Laid” from the 1980s. They may not have reached that level as far as ongoing chart success is concerned, but the music still has the spirit and groove-laden components. I wouldn’t say that there is a standout hit song, but there is a good level of consistency in the quality. There is a gorgeous song titled “Getting Away With It” – haunting, infectious and melody-driven to lift your spirits. It comes as the second-last track on the CD. There are the effortless oblique traces in “Space”, the very moody moments of “Junkie”, and the addictive “Give It Away”. Several introspective moments culminate in the final track “Alaskan Pipeline”, a moody instrumental to set your mind thinking and realise that you’ve heard a fine album.