Personnel includes: James Yorkston (vocals); Sun Li (vocals, violin); Holly (mandolin, whistle, small pipes); Reuben (piano); Dougie (bass); Faisal (drums). PREVIEW :Q (8/02, p.134) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Hooray for fey-... more »free folk..."Mojo (7/02, p.96) - "...A lovely lilting album..."Magnet (10/02, p.110) - "...It's a cultural tangle, to be sure, and one Yorkston shows he's capable of pulling off..."NME (6/1/02, p.38) - 8 out of 10 - "...James Yorkston is a folk musician from Scotland. Realistically this suggests that the only way he'd make it into the pages of NME was if he smacked one of the Strokes over the head with a banjo. But his debut album, sweetly but firmly demolishes your preconceptions..."« less
Personnel includes: James Yorkston (vocals); Sun Li (vocals, violin); Holly (mandolin, whistle, small pipes); Reuben (piano); Dougie (bass); Faisal (drums). PREVIEW :Q (8/02, p.134) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Hooray for fey-free folk..."Mojo (7/02, p.96) - "...A lovely lilting album..."Magnet (10/02, p.110) - "...It's a cultural tangle, to be sure, and one Yorkston shows he's capable of pulling off..."NME (6/1/02, p.38) - 8 out of 10 - "...James Yorkston is a folk musician from Scotland. Realistically this suggests that the only way he'd make it into the pages of NME was if he smacked one of the Strokes over the head with a banjo. But his debut album, sweetly but firmly demolishes your preconceptions..."
CD Reviews
Buy This Album!!
Kerry Lamb | Dublin, Eire. | 11/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first saw James and his Athletes supporting David Gray in Dublin. I was really impressed - it was an unusual choice of support, but the songs stood out for themselves. I bought a copy of "moving up country" on the way out of the gig, and it's been my "discovery" of the year. 3 of the songs they played are on this album - "Tender to the blues", "Sweet Jesus" and "6:30 is just way too early". Each one is a pure marvel, but why they didn't play "St. Patrick" (from the album) is beyond me, it has to be the most beautiful song i've heard for years. Even my boyfriend admits to liking it!
I strongly recommend you buy this album and fall in love. it's my most rewarding purchase since "White Ladder"
bye!!"
Slow burning stunner.
Jason M. Tyson | East Village, New York | 04/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was in a Rough Trade Records store in Notting Hill when i noticed this album in a stack of cd's. The clerks there said it was phenomenal and when I got back stateside and investigated, they proved to be right. One of the best albums to come out in 2002, Yorkston mixes quality lyrics with beautiful folk music. Every track is simply a delight. Highlights would defiently be St. Patrick and the title track. Lots of cellos, harmonicas, shakers and other smooth sounding instruments. A+++"
Look Who's Getting Along
superball9 | Arlington, VA, USA | 02/01/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"James Yorkston's *Moving Up Country* is a pastoral album of wandering meadows, roaming fields, and babbling brooks. This is all fitting given that Yorkston grew up around the countryside of the British Isles. His vocals are reminiscent of Beck's on *Mutations* and *Sea Change* - weary enough from the burdens of the labor of love but forward enough to keep pursuing the dream. "Tender To The Blues" even sounds as if it could've been lifted from Mr. Hansen's songbook. Title track, "Moving Up Country, Roaring The Gospel" and "Cheating The Game" have an old saloon feel to them while "I Spy Dogs" is easily the most raucous cut centered on a soul-like piano melody. Unfortunately Yorkston puts some of the least accessible tunes at the beginning of the disc which makes *Moving Up Country* initially slow to appreciate, but repeated listens prove an album worthy of the beautiful landscape it depicts."
Moving Up Country
Dave McKean | Edinburgh - Scotland/ Vancouver - B.C. | 06/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"James Yorkston's melancholic vocals and soft melodies are the perfect antidote to todays up-tempo, hi-profile, style obsessed, substance starved artists. Walking a non-existent line between early folk, blues, and some form of pop, he comes to a halt in a joyously confusing melting pot of genres, fine musicianship and wonderfuly melodic, guitar based genius. Now i use the phrase genius loosley as this is only his first complete album, however it is fascinatingly addictive and gentle as a summers day spent lying on a grassy hill, surrounded by rabbits while staring aimlessly at the clouds. Sounding fresh and original is a tall order of late, yet Yorkston manages to fashion something very fresh and exciting with the familiarity of something old. The album complements any circumstance, its perfectly suited to sunny days, dark nights, warm rooms, cold breezes, with friends, with enemies, with no-one, whatever, wherever, this album is the perfect accompaniment. He's an old soul with a new sound, and thats too good to miss."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1