La Petite Mort

Product Information

a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "James | Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019 . Retrieved 24 May 2020. Walsh, Andy. "Album Review: James: La Petite Mort". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020 . Retrieved 24 May 2020. James work on alternative versions to allow singer to grieve at gigs". The Express. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014 . Retrieved 25 May 2020. Booth recently said that the band feel that they’ve made one of their strongest albums, which is quite a statement to make when it’s your 13th album, but I definitely agree with them. One listen to the sneak preview the band treated fans to 5 days before the official album release, and I was in love with an album I didn’t and couldn’t have (yet, anyway!) The direction the band have taken with the album is interesting, as information regarding the title referring to the recent loss of Booth’s Mother and best friend is divulged in the sleeve notes. With such tragedy underpinning the album title, you’d expect the album to have a sadness running through it, with a hint of melancholy and darkness, but the album is incredibly upbeat, and definitely one everyone should have! The release of the box set, coupled with the two mini-albums, marked the end of the group's recording contract with major label Mercury Records. Additionally, contracts with various music publishers had ended around this time; the publishers had no interest in continuing the contracts, a view that the members also shared. The group soon signed a publishing deal with BMG. [6] Between June and November 2012, Booth, bassist Jim Glennie and guitarist Larry Gott spent time in Portugal (Porto), Greece (Athens) and the UK (Manchester and Scottish Highlands) writing new material. [7] While in the Scottish Highlands, they set up a studio in a small hotel in Gairloch and recorded demos. [8] Booth said the writing this time was opened to Davies and keyboardist Mark Hunter, which he felt have the material a "more organic" sound. They accumulated 30 to 40 songs in total for their next album, in contrast to the 120 they had for their tenth studio album Hey Ma (2008). [9] Production [ edit ]

Curse Curse sounds like the band attempting to be something they’re not, with techno touches providing a rave feel; a TV is turned on to drown out sexual noises from next door, just as Messi shoots and scores at an appropriate moment in the Copa Del Rey– come on boys, Messi is so last year, it’s all about Bale now! Overwhelming emotions can bring something out from the soul, leading to rich flows of inspiration that can translate into powerful artistic expression. But ‘La Petite Mort’ never sounds morbid, and although it’s sometimes dark, sad and thought provoking, it’s actually an inspiring, uplifting and euphoric piece of work that (amongst other things) looks at the idea that death may not be the end. A definite rejuvenation also coincides with the group all recording together again, following two mini albums from 2010 which involved the band members sending each other their individual ideas to work on. As a result of reconnecting with each other, this is a set of songs that succeeds in capturing their seismic live energy. Over 30 years into their career, and James are making some of their best music. Battersby, Matilda (7 December 2012). "James frontman Tim Booth talks snakes, near death experiences and trance states". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013 . Retrieved 25 May 2020.In my hotel room / Sounds from next door / Someone’s getting laid” goes the self-deprecating first line of the EDM-flavored “Curse Curse”. The protagonist craves tequila, finding himself “Crazy as a wasp / On a window in a heatwave.” This frivolity coats the album’s first four songs and was a serious red flag during my first listen. Everything was, even in death, so banal or pedestrian. Over several plays, you get used to “Moving On”‘s predictable builds, “Curse Curse’s” saccharine nature and the alleged joke of “Gone Baby Gone”. Opener “Walk Like You” was one that seemed to do a turnaround all its own, finding James doing a quite convincing impression of multi-movement pop in seven minutes and six seconds. The lyrics are Booth in an uncharacteristically punchy mood, directed toward a parent figure. “Which parent told you that you’re slow? / My absent dad, my mum’s control / Schooled me to be a worker drone.” This troubled youth shakes it off with defiance by the end, declaring “We will not walk like you / Talk like you.” James (26 August 2014). James – "Curse Curse" (Official Video). Archived from the original on 17 March 2020 . Retrieved 26 May 2020– via YouTube. A solid return from James with perhaps their best "pop" LP since Whiplash or Millionaires. Producer Max Dingel gives the band's sound a slightly commercial makeover with singles Frozen Britain, Moving On and Curse Curse arriving instantly in a flurry of addictive and fully-formed noise. There is little "fat" on the songs here with even the 7 minute opener Walk Like You utilising every second of its duration nicely. Moving On in particular is one of their finest singles to date and sits comfortably alongside the more established James hits. The second half of the album slows the tempo down a bit beginning with the darker Interrogation and the introspective Bitter Virtue. The piano led songs towards the end return the listener to more familiar James territory which is a nice way to round off proceedings. All songs written by Tim Booth, Larry Gott, Jim Glennie, Saul Davies and Mark Hunter. All lyrics by Booth. [14]

James perform Moving On: music session". The Telegraph. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018 . Retrieved 25 May 2020. Max Dingel is the latest in a long line of first class producers the band have worked with including Brian Eno, Gil Norton and Youth. From first signing with the infamous Factory Records, to an illustrious career of albums released through Rough Trade, Sire Records and Mercury, James have now agreed an exciting new joint venture label partnership with BMG Chrysalis and indie label Cooking Vinyl. All I'm Saying - Single by James". iTunes. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020 . Retrieved 24 May 2020. a b Chase, Ted (5 August 2014). "James – La Petite Mort". QRO. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021 . Retrieved 3 August 2022.a b "Live archive: 2013". James. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019 . Retrieved 25 May 2020. Sexton, Paul (19 October 2014). " 'Everyone's affected by fame in different ways,' says James singer Tim Booth". The Express. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017 . Retrieved 25 May 2020.

James (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019 . Retrieved 24 May 2020. a b c Monger, Timothy. "La Petite Mort - James". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019 . Retrieved 24 May 2020.

O'Brien, Jon. "The Gathering Sound [Box Set] - James | Release Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020 . Retrieved 24 May 2020. Tim Booth signs up for singing lessons after health drama". The Express. 8 August 2014. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017 . Retrieved 25 May 2020. June: "Blog: Juliet's Summer Serial (Summer 2012)". James. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019 . Retrieved 25 May 2020. Since 1986, Manchester’s darlings James have notched up 12 studio albums – not bad considering a five year hiatus that ended with a welcome return in 2007.

La Petite Mort by James". iTunes. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020 . Retrieved 25 May 2020.a b c d e La Petite Mort (booklet). James. BMG/ Cooking Vinyl. 2014. COOKCD604. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) Blog: The Gathering Sound Stories (Spring 2013)". James. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019 . Retrieved 25 May 2020. La Petite Mort’ may mean ‘The Little Death’, but this record has all the makings of a rebirth, signalling a refreshed sound from Booth and co. The Little Death’ – the literal translation of the 13th release – is actually an idiom for any kind of release in fact, with ejaculations referred to in this way more than anything else. But the overall theme is indeed one of death, as Booth attempted to come to terms with the passing of both his mother and a dear friend that introduced him to his wife. a b c d Merline, Michael (15 July 2014). "Review: James: La Petite Mort". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020 . Retrieved 24 May 2020.