Lost James - Chapman's Pool (MHU)

Lost James – Chapman’s Pool (MHU)

There’s a time and a place for most music, if you really think about it. It’s just that, in the case of Lost James, that time and place is 2am in an Asda car park. It sounds rather splendid then.

Prior to this, on first play – or actually around the first dozen plays, if I’m being honest – it was just one of those records that’s just ‘there’, one that seems so nondescript that you forget it’s even on, and are only reminded that it WAS on, once it finishes airing. It’s pleasant but hardly memorable.

However, once I’d relayed this information to Lost James’s PR, he pleaded with me to give it more of a chance. So I did. And I’m glad I did. ‘Sunday‘, which kicks things off, is like an amalgamation of both ‘Asleep‘ and ‘I Know It’s Over‘ by The Smiths, and this melancholy aura is carried over into ‘Toast‘, which gives a further nod to the aforementioned quartet, the music recalling ‘Oscillate Wildly‘ this time. But don’t let me lead you astray here – this is no tribute act to Manchester’s finest. Often there are nods to Belle & Sebastian in their more tender moments, and neither ‘Wintersong‘ nor ‘In Bed‘ would be out of place on a James Yorkston record. It really is quite beautiful in places.

All that said, there is very little variation from that woozy Sunday morning feeling on Chapman’s Pool, which perhaps explains why it was so effective at two in the morning in an Asda car park. These are clearly well crafted songs, but you have to be truly in the mood for them. Who knows, perhaps it will sound even better in the car park at Tesco? Now there’s an idea for the diary.

Chapman’s Pool is out now on Music Hoarders United.

  1. In terms of music reviews this is one of the strangest I have come across. I feel that if you had focused less on you’re obscure and potentially seedy visits to supermarket car parks and more on the melody and tone of the album you might think differently.

    The comparison to belle and Sebastian was weak at best but you were correct on the tones coming through alike the smiths. I laughed when reading this review but sadly it was not with you but rather at your clear effort to try and sound profound and unique when critiquing. Alas, it only came out pretentious and try hard.

  2. I always find its the people who don’t naturally have much wit revert to being grammar nazis. Originality isn’t for everyone, better luck next time.

  3. I merely treated your comment with the contempt it deserved. You were far harsher on my review than I was on James’s record, and if you’re going to be so vocal about it, at least get your spelling and grammar right, otherwise you’re fair game. It’s quite weird and actually very childish to get so pissy about someone else’s views on music, especially as I hardly panned it, did I? What do you want me to do, dance on the table and pretend I loved it just because you did? If I got all uppity every time someone slagged off an album I loved, I’d be walking round like I was being permanently wedgied. Maybe that’s why you’re so upset? It must be very uncomfortable for you.

  4. I have to say, I’m not sure I agree with this review. My wife and I have been listening to this album on repeat. Reminds me of my younger days relaxing before the kids popped out.

  5. Seems to me that the reviewer cannot take being reviewed himself. Regardless of the music it was a piss poor review. First you don’t like it and then you are so glad you had another listen, and then it’s pretty average. I give the record a 4 out of 5 and I give the review a big fat ZERO.

  6. That’s fine, Roger. I don’t have a problem with people respectfully disagreeing, as you have. It’s a pleasant enough listen.

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God is in the TV is an online music and culture fanzine founded in Cardiff by the editor Bill Cummings in 2003. GIITTV Bill has developed the site with the aid of a team of sub-editors and writers from across Britain, covering a wide range of music from unsigned and independent artists to major releases.