James is a band that has been around since 1982 and has a large following. Their latest album has finally given them their first No.1, which is impressive considering they have had nine albums in the top ten. The album is a mix of their signature sound and experimental and eclectic tracks. The collaborations on this album are impressive, and the mixing by Cenzo Townsend is top-notch. 

The album opens with ‘Is This Love’, which perfectly blends their quintessential sound with synths and Andy Diagram’s trumpet. ‘Life’s a Fucking Miracle’ is a deep house track that explores the ups and downs of life and then bursts into a grand instrumentation. ‘Better with You’ mixes disco with synths and continues the story of ‘Life’s a Fucking Miracle’ where the main character finds “the one”. ‘Stay’ is a powerful track that addresses mental health issues and encourages listeners to keep fighting against the condition. 

Chloe Alper, who joined the band in 2018, shines as a backing vocalist on the album, especially on ‘Shadow of a Giant’ and ‘Way Over Your Head’. ‘Way Over Your Head’ features Jon Hopkins on piano and Saul Davies on the violin and is a beautiful ballad about alcoholism. The album’s tracks ‘Mobile God’ and ‘Our World’ showcase the band’s unity and optimism. ‘Mobile God’ explores the issue of smartphones from the phone’s perspective, and ‘Our World’ looks to a better future. 

‘Rogue’ is a catchy song about rebelling against ageism, and ‘Hey’ is an experimental track that features gospel music and addresses conspiracy theories vs the media. The album closes with ‘Folks’, a powerful ballad about death. The album proves that James has improved since their reunion in 2007 and dared to go against the grain of what the music industry expects from them. The album is a must-listen for fans of James and anyone who loves great music.

Song recommendations: ‘Life’s a Fucking Miracle’, ‘Mobile God’, ‘Hey’

9/10