Be Opened By The Wonderful

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XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s. They dipped in and out of my life and I last seriously listened to them on the release of their last studio album `All The Colours of You` and got to witness them perform a few cuts from the album and some classic tunes live as well. Working with Joe and making this album has been the first time in 40 years that we have stopped and looked back.

It is an alternative version of a greatest hits album – though there are several lesser-known tracks here too. Sit Down, perhaps the song most associated with the band (in this country anyway) is another that is given a whole new feel by Joe. Released on June 9 via Virgin Music and available on DSPs, CD and Vinyl the double-album also includes one brand new track, “Love Make A Fool,” to be released in April.Taken from James’ 1999 album Millionaires, the track is simply exquisite, opening with just piano and military-esque drums before the strings come in, all of which provides a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for Tim and Chloe’s heartbreaking duet, their voices perfectly complimenting each other. By working once again (and this time recording with) Joe Duddell, James have given themselves and their fans the opportunity to make new musical memories whilst revisiting old ones. This slowed down, barer, purer version has the feel of many an acoustic James session, and still has the guitar hook from the original but this is much more subdued, with the melody being carried by the strings which heighten Tim’s tender and soaring vocals. James’ latest single, “ Love Make A Fool,” is an anthemic powerhouse that exudes a tribal aura and a mantra-like quality to its lyrics.

The first disc opens with `Sometimes` which is predominantly stripped back with vocal and minimal orchestration initially and is part spoken word and part sung but as it evolves the backing choir give it a much more poignant and gospel like feel and it becomes almost a different song to the original song of love and heartbreak. The joyful`She’s A Star` a song about empowerment is given a fullorchestrated workout which allows a much more emotiveimpact. Sometimes is the first track on the album, the racing repetitive guitar hook of the original version replaced by slow and emotive strings. In further celebration of their 40 th Anniversary, the band will play a headline slot at Latitude Festival, performing as Special Guests on the Sunday afternoon at midday, a slot especially created for JAMES to honour their Anniversary. In further celebration of their 40th Anniversary, the band will play a the South Facing Festival and also a headline set at Latitude Festival, performing as Special Guests on the Sunday afternoon at Midday, a slot especially created for James to honor their Anniversary.It could easily be perceived as a band having a mid-life crisis and being a bunch of pretentious wankers.

Morrissey had been raving about them in all the music press and to be fair they were pretty entertaining. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below.The evolution of James over the decades has been remarkable to watch, and this new album demonstrates not only how they excel as musicians, but also as human beings. They have anew double album in celebration of their 40th Anniversary with `Be Opened By The Wonderful` a collection of some of their most loved and rare tracks, reimagined with a 22-piece orchestra and eight-piece choir, written, and recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, orchestrated, and conducted by Joe Duddell with the ORCA22 Orchestra, led by Andra Vornicu, and featuring the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir directed by Wayne Ellington.