James Yorkston – Down At The Front https://www.downatthefront.co.uk The place to be to experience new music Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:24:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 212659681 James Yorkston, Nina Persson and the Second Hand Orchestra https://www.downatthefront.co.uk/archives/17706 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:54:10 +0000 https://www.downatthefront.co.uk/?p=17706 I have only recently discovered James Yorkston through his work as ‘Yorkston/Thorne/Khan’. With the recent release of his beautiful ‘The Great White Eagle’, I decided to take a punt on his performance at the Jazz Cafe. Now this is going to sound rather stupid. I completely forgot that this was a joint album with Nina Persson of Cardigans fame. While I can’t say I was a massive Cardigans fan. For a brief time in the mid-90s, they were the sound of indie pop, crafting brilliant indie pop tunes that are very much a backdrop to my life. Nina’s floaty vocals were a large reason for the infectious nature of their songs.

Tonight was the last night of the tour where they were accompanied by the Second Hand Orchestra. Sweden’s Second Hand Orchestra bring together musicians from different backgrounds and often ask them to play with instruments that aren’t their chosen instrument. The orchestra featured violin, sax, bass, guitar, drums and keyboard. Allowing us to hear the album played as it was recorded.

It was one of those evenings when the music sublimely washed over me. Despite only knowing each other for a short period, the interactions between James and Nina was natural and friendly. Nina’s vocals are maybe a little less floaty, but her greater control complemented James’s vocals, often circling his. Prefect example was on ‘The Harmony’, Nina’s vocals perfectly bleed together with James’s. At no point did either compete. Both giving way to each other to create a beautiful sound.

It was a lovely evening of music. Definitely worth catching if they play the summer festivals.

Set List

  • WITH ME WITH YOU
  • A SWEETNESS IN YOU
  • AN UPTURNED CRAB
  • PETER PAOLO VAN DER HEYDEN
  • MARY
  • A FORESTFUL OF ROGUES
  • THE HEAVY LYRIC POLICE
  • KEEPING UP WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN, YEAH
  • WE TEST THE BEAMS
  • CHOICES
  • THE HARMONY
  • STRUGGLE
  • A DROPLET FORMS
  • A HOLLOW SKELETON LIFTS A HEAVY WING
  • SAM & JEANIE MCGREAGOR
  • HOLD OUT FOR LOVE
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