There are some artists that, no matter what, keep shining through, just like we need them to. The music industry might manage to be both too much hype and yet failing at the same time, but there is love to be found. Such love as James on their uplifting latest, Yummy.
While James have been a hopeful act for decades now, it’s particularly evident on Yummy, from opener “Is This Love” on. It can get a bit much, but it’s also what you want from a new James record, such as the strings-led grandeur & sway of “Shadow of a Giant”, raising “Way Over Your Head”, and the breakthrough of hope, “Our World”. There is a shift at the end with the darker penultimate “Butterfly” and world-wise (but not -weary) closer “Folks”, but this is an album to lift you up.
We are all looking for signs of hope in these darkening times, from election results to the music charts (Yummy hit #1 in James’ native U.K.!). Embrace the Yummy hope of James.