James Yorkston - 'Roaring The Gospel' (Domino) 04/06/07

James Yorkston over three singular albums has explored a distinctive mien of folky tunes with a country patina that has found him at home with acoustic arrangements while the world catches up. 'Roaring The Gospel' works with a choice of instruments that include ex-Scot Ivor Cutlers favourite wheeze box - the harmonium, as well as trusty banjo, Fender Rhodes, bouzouki, mandolin and concertina. Like fellow Fife creative King Creosote (both early Fence Collective members with K.T. Tunstall and The Aliens), and Badly Drawn Boy, James Yorkston proves himself a Man for all seasons with heart-warming songs, stories and wry observations of the passing world loosely spun on a Celtic home yarn that seem lived-in, delivered by a tender voice that has the reins in close - almost talking/singing like Lambchopper Kurt Wagner.

'A Man With My Skills' starts the ball from centrefield with a rolling piano and harmonium like a Badly Drawn Boy melody and a Kurt Wagneresque wit that continues on the chipper 'Someplace Simple' with the cutesy narrative - "...we've both been blessed with a one-track mind...but it's way to cold for any of that here...", so simple, like sunshine. Country elements weave in with 'Blue Madonnas' with a banjo leading the melody to a drum patter and a foot tappin' ramblin' riddim - "...the Hare Krishna's have no luck/ with my catholic battered soul..." a tune that's like freewheeling a bicycle down a sun-splattered country lane.

Band backing form The Athletes shows gaiety with drum-led tracks such as the jolly steam-train ride of 'Hill & The Heath', the sawdust kicking 'Sleep Is The Jewel' and the lengthy Caledonian folk/blues hybrid 'The Lang Toun' with it's fly-on-the-wall observations adding up to an unmistakable highlight. And why does the clarinet backing so remind of The Wombles with 'Are You Coming Home Tonight?'.

A couple of covers include Tim Buckley's stately 'Song To The Siren' to which James Yorkston adds his humble stamp as though singing for friends, lacking the range of Tim B or the experimentalism of Liz Fraser yet with a hearthplace coziness and violin. 'Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk' sounds like a new term for getting cut/langered/mullered/plain pissed, a traditional Irish folk song arranged by James Y and could be a swansong for Shane McGowen as he attempts to get his supper inside the pearly gates.

'La Magnifica' closes as it opened - with a tune that warms the cockles of the heart, a simple folksong that stands outside time - "...you can't/ manufacture love...". James Yorkston has a place on the mantel piece of National treasures that sees him cast like a British Micah P. Hinson, a gentle and assured talent. There's no spoken word delights like his 'Woozy With Cider' from 'The Year Of The Leopard', but the laid back melodies and fine cachet of songs adds up to a campfire with friends.