James Yorkston And The Second Hand Orchestra

★★★★

The Wide, Wide River DOMINO. CD/DL/LP

Recorded in three days, more lively collaborations by the Scottish singer-songwriter.

Nearly 20 years after Domino Records signed him, James Yorkston is still exploring new avenues with his curious, skilful compositions. Last year’s Yorkston/Thorne/Khan release Navarasa: Nine

Emotions, was a career highlight, full of cross-cultural, improvisational zeal. The same spirit fuels this new project, recorded in only three days with the Swedish instrumental collective (including Peter Morén from Peter, Bjorn And John). The only track the group heard before the session was Ella Mary Leather: in their hands it becomes a quicksilver, impish tribute to the British folklore collector (“Do you believe your elders?” Yorkston asks, as the band race behind him). Other highlights include Struggle, a tender song for his children which discusses the realities of adulthood, and the lulling murmurations of A Droplet Forms and We Test The Beams. Yorkston is one of our finest talents, still stretching out. Jude Rogers