James – La Petite Mort

Despite James not currently being the most established group in the mainstream, they possess a quality that many other rock-orientated bands fail to acquire: an indisputably distinct sound. In a society where bands have the potential to sound repetitive and monotonous that is a truly refreshing quality indeed.

Moving On is the first single to be released from their new album and is without a doubt one of the strongest songs featured on La Petite Mort. The song expresses the pain of loss and captivates every emotion that you suffer when you lose someone close to you. The ingenious music video can be viewed below and I challenge you to watch it without shredding a few heartfelt tears.

Although the album may be deeply reliant upon piano melodies it is unfeasible to not realise their beauty, and tracks such as Walk Like You and Quicken the Dead will become favourites amongst those who have a passion for the profound usage of the instrument. Conversely though, the album is also a platform for experimentation and the jovial electro beats featured on Curse Curse are the perfect exhibition of this musical growth.

So what of the rest of the album? It’s fun, tentative and frankly speaking there’s not a weak track on there. La Petite Mort offers the audience the accustomed vocal mannerisms of Tim Booth, and though they may not be to everyone’s taste you have to appreciate the well-constructed lyrics and instrumental splendour that surround the album. If you’re open-minded with your musical taste and can justly value talented compositions then La Petite Mort will be a much-loved addition to your music collection.

Keira Trethowan

La Petite Mort was released on 30^th May 2014. For further information or to order the album visit James’s website here.

Watch the video for Moving On here: