Word Paintings
‘Anyone who remembers and longs for great song writing, please listen to this’ How the light gets in.
‘This album finds a creative and imaginative artist at the peak of his powers’
Trevor Dann. Nick Drake Biographer
Word Paintings
The fourteenth Album release by Keith James since 2001
Word Paintings, the new album of mainly original material by Keith James, has many things to recommend it. From a lyrical perspective, it is hard to fault; beautifully described scenes capturing a moment in time, social commentaries musing on human nature, individual lines that really make you think, all of these and more are on display here, resulting in an album packed with intriguing and enticing narratives that, just as the album’s title promises, paint evocative pictures for the listener.
The haunting, dynamic melodies move effortlessly from delicate to dominant, encompassing flavours of great songwriters such as Leonard Cohen and James Taylor, yet ultimately creating a sound that is all his own. The core of the songs are further enhanced by excellent instrumentation, ranging from lush string arrangements reminiscent of a Bond soundtrack to more intimate acoustic timbres that combine with Keith’s soft and seductive vocals to draw the listener in.
The Nick Drake and John Martyn covers are both superb versions that treat the originals with great respect whilst still putting his own inimitable flavour on them, evincing the fact that performing their music is a passion he has been honing for many years on the road. In summary, this is as accomplished and emotional an album as I have heard in a good while.
Ed Norman
Sound technician at Chapel Arts Centre Bath & Lecturer in music & sound technology at Bath University
THE KEITH JAMES SONGBOOK
A long awaited Concert tour
Mature, insightful and intriguing - sensitive and honest
Spanning the past 50 years, Keith has performed thousands of enthusiastically received shows in Arts Centres and Theatres throughout the UK. Thoughtful, interpretive concerts devoted to the writing of visionary Songwriters and Poets who he has always admired.
The success of these concerts has been such, that it has somewhat eclipsed Keith’s own material (which has mostly been heard on his 12 Album releases) so the writing and release of this new and significant body of work Word Paintings has given Keith, and those alongside him the confidence to open a door and let this treasure chest of original songs be heard.
The songs from Word Paintings, a stand-alone, much championed, new collection, are at the heart of this concert, set amongst the characterful and fearless songs from Can you imagine 2020, the vital commentary of Paradise lost 2019 and the poetic imagery of Message from the Gods 2017, even some songs that date way back through his music year career. The best collection of Keith’s original material in one concert – which is by no means just music. There is a ‘chatting late into the night at a Taverna’ feel about the backstories and the embryonic seed of inspiration to each of the songs.
‘Anyone who remembers and longs for great song-writing, please listen to this’
How the light gets in.
‘devotion, integrity, experience. All spinning as one’ Guardian Weekly
‘I really enjoyed the Album! It has a haunting quality’
Ian Rankin
‘Brave enough to write the music he truly believes in’
Bob Harris OBE
‘This album more than earns its place in the gallery of old masters’
Mike Davies, Birmingham Radio
‘This album finds a creative and imaginative artist at the peak of his powers’
Trevor Dann. Nick Drake Biographer
‘Word Paintings is a musical triumph’
Radio Caroline
‘There is a delicious soulfulness going on here’ Colin Hall
..hope to see you at one of the concerts
Painting by Jenny Finch
