Alive in 2005 is the culmination of the hundreds of live gigs that James has played since releasing his last live album, 40 Minutes of Peace. Recorded one Saturday night in June 2005 far from the electricity grid in a marquee erected in the middle of [+]Alive in 2005 is the culmination of the hundreds of live gigs that James has played since releasing his last live album, 40 Minutes of Peace. Recorded one Saturday night in June 2005 far from the electricity grid in a marquee erected in the middle of the Forest of Dean, England, it features both old and new material as well as some stunning guitar improvisations. The CD reflects the special atmosphere of the night and the spontaneity that has come to characterise James' live performance.
“This album shows James for the accomplished acoustic artist that he is." - www.bristolrock.co.uk
"He's an excellent and frenetic fingerpicker reminiscent of John Fahey - www.acousticmusic.com
Liner notes:
Recorded on 18 June 2005 at Marek's Dome, Noxon, Forest of Dean, England.
Thanks to everyone who was there (no, really!) Matt and Lisa, Marek, Steve, Rachel, Jade, Pete, Wils, Jude, Lisa, Lay and the Man with the Hat, Jon the DJ, Lynn, Lynn, Jess, Pete, Dan, Clare and Fin, Suleela, Big Matt, (who helped peel the stage-invader away from my new microphone... Highly amusing actually, in retrospect) and everyone else who was there.
Of course, thanks to Pete for fetching the water; Matt for all the beer I drank; Jade, Matt and someone else for the generators and Ashaman for the Sand-Dance riff (even though I never quite remembered it properly...).
Honourable mention to Pink Floyd and Metallica, whose songs inspired the final improvisation. However, I didn't include the actual tracks on this CD, so hope I'll get away without being sued for breach of copyright.
This collection of songs was recorded after a period of two or three solid years of constant gigging. Some of the songs were old 'favourites' and some were written only days before the performance. Some were improvisations that even I'd never heard before.
While mixing this album, I realised how different the performances from those on '40 Minutes of Peace', which had far more 'space'. Comments I'd had from people urging me to play faster and more furiously left their mark. Perhaps as a result, my style has acquired a more frenetic energy. This has its place, but if I do another live album after another similar interval, say in 2007, I may just about have got it right by then!
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