James Yorkston - Roaring the Gospel

There may be a trade descriptions issue around the title of this record, as James Yorkston is definitely not one to roar. But don't be put off by any such confusion, because the music of this Fence Collective alumni retains power in its mellow restraint. It's been just six months since Yorkston's last release, The Year of the Leopard, which would suggest feverish productivity if it weren't for the fact that this is in fact a collection of oldies, most plucked from his numerous EPs. But that doesn't detract from the album's worth, as Yorkston is a born songwriter with a knack for surprising his listeners in almost every verse. Blue Madonnas is a Blur-esque banjo-led standout, while the cover of Cilla Fisher's Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk is heart-wrenching. But the centrepiece of the record is undoubtedly The Lang Toun, a ten-minute slow-burner with pipes and detuned guitar that led to Yorkston's deal with Domino. Sublime. [Nick Mitchell]