James Yorkston

LUST FOR FIFE

What music are you currently grooving to?

New albums from David A Jaycock and Seamus Fogarty; older favourites like Bess Cronin, Orchestra Baobab, Oumou Sangaré… The Undermedvetenheten album on Lost Map has been played a lot – a great accompaniment to a game of chess.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? It’d have to be Fifth Column by U.N.P.O.C. It’s kind of a cross between Pet Sounds and Doolittle, but it was recorded in a wardrobe, so sounds a little lo-fi… What is it? English language, guitar-driven pop music, with plenty of harmonies. It came out nearly 20 years ago and I’m still awaiting the follow-up.

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?

I was given a record voucher by my Auntie Faith, and I used it to buy 20 Rock & Roll Greatest Hits from Woolworths, in St Andrews. I guess I was seven or eight. I still have it and still play it, although it’s pretty scratched up.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? I’ve never had that desire. I’d love to be able to sing well, though. I’d also love to have had Séamus Ennis’s skills with the Uilleann pipes.

What do you sing in the shower? If I have a tour coming up, I run through my old songs. If not, I’ll try and remember some of the longer traditional songs. Currently on Arthur McBride – Paul Brady’s version, of course.

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

Michael Hurley – Long Journey. He’s been putting out consistently great albums since the late ’60’s. Long Journey is probably his most polished. It’s fairly up-beat, curious, weird alt-country from long before the term was coined.

And your Sunday morning record? Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou – Spielt Eigene Kompositionen.

A friend of mine gave me a copy 15 years ago, and it’s one of those records that has just stuck with me. I adore her compositions and her playing.