James – All the Colours of You
Virgin Records
4th June
“WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE”
Tim Booth provides us with this grim, albeit true, statement as he opens the latest offering from the Mancunian masters. The new album – All the Colours of You – was partly written during the C-19 plague and it shows as Mr. Booth is the messenger of dark and light, hope and despair throughout the long player.
The production is huge on this as Jacknife Lee takes the already massive James sound to a new level. You expect festival-ready anthems from James and this album certainly doesn’t disappoint. The usual perfect, sometimes languid, delivery by Tim Booth is there and the musicianship is of a level you’d expect from a band nearing their 40th year in the craft.
All the Colours of You is relevant and fresh but still with the trademark James sound and expertise. Outside of the hits I’ve never been a huge fan of James recordings; watching them in a live setting has always been my method of receiving my dose of James. However, the goalposts have been significantly moved with this album. I will definitely revisit this one and recommend that everyone sits down and does the same. It is a fine piece of art and worthy of much note and praise.
2021 UK and Ireland headline shows:
November
Thu 25 Leeds First Direct Arena Fri 26 Birmingham Utilita ArenaSun 28 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Tue 30 Glasgow SSE Hydro
December
Wed 01 Dublin 3 ArenaFri 03 Manchester Arena (Sold Out) Sat 04 London Wembley Arena
UK Festivals:
June Thu 24 London Heritage Live @ Kenwood House
July Fri 30 Glasgow Playground Weekender Sat 31 Margate Dreamland
August Sun 01 Derbyshire Y Not Festival Sat 21 Devon Beautiful Day
September
Thu 02 Lancaster Highest Point Festival Sat 04 Warrington Neighbourhood Weekender
Thu 11 Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Fri 17 Isle Of Wight Isle Of Wight Festival
