James - FUV Live - 2014

The devastating blow of his mother’s death and the passing of a close friend compelled Tim Booth, the lead singer of James, to deal with profound grief in the only way he knew how: to write songs and record an album with his bandmates. But James’ most recent album, La Petite Mort, isn’t steeped in relentless sorrow and lachrymose lyrics, but embraces broader, brighter themes with a spiritual and even humorous bent, celebrating the fleeting nature of life and love.

 

 

One of Manchester’s best-known bands, always marching to its own distinctive, unabashedly emotional beat, James, founded in 1982, has resolutely ridden the waves of its hometown’s ever-fluctuating punk, acid house, Madchester and Britpop phases. James has had its share of lineup shifts and breakups too; the current iteration of the band, including longtime bassist Jim Glennie and guitarist Larry Gott, reunited in 2007.

 

So it was a triumphant James that visited FUV’s Studio A this fall to perform “Movin’ On” and “Interrogation” from Le Petite Mort. They were proud of their 13th album which deftly plumbs the darkest recesses of deep loss and more uplifting moments of learning to move forward. I spoke to Booth and Glennie about the recording of what could have been a difficult album, given its subject matter, and Booth’s personal navigation of a tough time in his life.  We also touched on James’ long, remarkable history and their experience working with legends like Factory Records’ Tony Wilson and producer Brian Eno.

 

[recorded: 10/24/14]