Robin James - Saint Jude

by Malcolm Carter

published: 7 / 1 / 2010

Label: Pocket Size Records
Format: CD

Disturbing, but oddly compelling debut album from extraordinary-voiced London-born singer-songwriter, Robin James

Review

This is the most beautifully odd and disturbing bunch of songs I have heard in a long time. As these songs are just Robin James and his acoustic guitar then obviously the vocals are going to grab a lot of attention. But even if the songs were played with a full band or heavily orchestrated then those vocals would still be the main talking point of the ten songs which make up ‘Saint Jude’. Almost everyone who I played this album to has told me that those vocals are from a girl. It’s not a new thing of course, that guy who sang for the Delays always sounded like Elizabeth Fraser to my ears and that’s just the first one that comes to mind. It’s something that twenty-nine year old James is going to have to get used to, but at the same time it’s something he should be proud of because when vocals such as his can hold the attention on such sparsely played songs and cause so much discussion that’s got to be a good thing. Once it’s accepted that those extraordinary vocals are, in fact, male vocals then strangely each time the album is played it’s not the gender that matters but the fact that James has such a unique voice that you just want to hear more and more of it. The songs were recorded in Liam Watson’s Toe Rag Studio in London which seems somewhat appropriate. The songs were recorded straight onto tape using just one microphone and no computer mastering was used. Apparently the whole album was recorded in just a few hours before James left his native London to go and live in Yorkshire but despite the sparseness of the songs they don’t sound rushed or feel that they were committed to tape to fit into a certain time frame. It’s uncertain how long James has been performing or perfecting these songs but each single track has a memorable tune (and how many voice / guitar songs that are recorded that quickly and simply can boast that these days?) and although James only learnt to play the guitar as he started to write his own songs his guitar playing is outstanding throughout. James is one of the few artists who appreciate that you don’t have to fill up a CD with music just to use the available space. ‘Saint Jude’ clocks in at a perfect 32 minutes which leaves you wanting more of his gorgeous melodies and more, much more of that extraordinary voice. It’s a voice that really does grow on you. The more you hear James the more you want of his, at times, disturbing but mesmerising vocals. James shares some the frailness that overshadowed the work of Nick Drake but vocally they are worlds apart and at times I hear a lot of Drake in the songs of Robin James. James says these songs are raw and certainly in the way they are recorded that is very true but it’s a beautiful rawness that shines through in these songs, the melodies, the gentleness in his vocals all draw you into his world and it’s to his credit that James can make his sound so inviting yet so disturbing at the same time. On some songs like ‘Lie Down’ James sounds particularly fragile and it feels like he is in the room with you almost whispering the lyrics into your ear. ‘Saint Jude’ is an extraordinary collection of songs from an equally extraordinary musician who obviously takes no notice of the sounds others are making and is quite content to go his own way playing his music to those who want to listen. It’s been quite some time since an album that is so sparsely recorded has made so much impression and it’s likely to hold that honour for some time to come. If you’re looking for an artist who truly has a voice of his own yet who is instantly accessible than look no further than Robin James.