James Yorkston and The Athletes

James Yorkston and The Athletes


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Just Beyond The River is James Yorkston and the Athletes’ second LP, following their critically lauded debut, Moving Up Country (Rough Trade Shops’ album of the year) from 2002. Bringing to light the extraordinary new folk sounds of Fife’s Fence Collective (King Creosote, Lone Pigeon, UNPOC et al) James Yorkston has been something of a best kept secret up until now; quietly making a modern music of great import, but with a subtlety and hushed self-confidence unmatched by just about any other singer-songwriter out there right now.

Recorded and produced by Kieran (Four Tet) Hebden over a period of 2 weeks at Bryn Derwen studios in Wales, Just Beyond The River is a bold record. James’ subtle skills as a songwriter really come to the surface, and the playing, as always remains untouchable. During the sessions the guys sat around listening to a mixed bag of old favourites and newer discoveries – Faust, Michael Hurley, Anne Briggs, D’Gary. Not since Will Oldham took post-hardcore rockers Slint on as his backing band have such influences helped create so beautiful a record.

In some ways Just Beyond The River picks up where Moving Up Country left off. The tight jazz-folk styled performances from Reuben, Doogie, and Faisal bubble away throughout this new record, whilst the songs have more authority, more clarity, and a slightly darker edge to them on this outing. It’s like James has his very own great Coltrane quartet with him! Perhaps unsurprising, with Hebden on board…

The elasticity of these songs of love, lust and loneliness, suggests they could be traditionals that were just waiting to be found and re-rendered; the transparency of the production acts as a perfect window through which to view the songs. Everything is clear, you just have to travel with them, find that something just beyond the river…
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