You’ve been dancing in the ring. The dimming of the day is underway. Let it ring out and play it loud. James Shakeshaft’s second album “Ragged Ornaments” consists of ten songs that were recorded live over 2 feverish days at Nave Studios in Leeds, UK with his outfit The Groupe, which is formed of bass guitarist Tom Kelly, formerly of Eagulls and percussion by Harry Clowes of The Black Lagoons and Vehicle. In addition to this the record includes pedal steel from Steven Hicken Jr on the tracks; Quiet Quitting, Endless Melody and Simple & True which also features Neve Cariad who alongside James creates a communion of voices in service of the song. In contrast to his debut record Snow White Dove which was recorded in isolation as much because of the pandemic as it was a roll of the dice to try and bring those songs to life, Ragged Ornaments sees contributions from friends and collaborators at all stages, including Designer and Animator Adam Garbutt who produced the music video, Hannah Platt who documented the studio sessions, Tom Orrell who produced and engineered the record and Ben Pike from Raretone Mastering. The album contains multitudes. It’s one of two sides where one moment you find yourself reaching for comparisons to a crooning Joey Rammone backed by Crazy Horse in the case of Silence The Din, Paper Smile and the title track itself, which is a rebuke to the power clowns that be and the next the mellifluous harmonies of Gram Parson’s and Emmylou Harris. This isn’t to say it’s pastiche. These things contribute to the whole but don’t define it. There is a confident lightness and humour to the songwriting this time around that cuts through on songs like Quiet Quitting “Well you’re quitting so quietly, you can hardly hear it and there’s nothing left to take of your spirit” and Super Luxury “Is this how it’s supposed to be?”, as well as a timeless sentiment that runs throughout “Like thread within a loom” on songs like Simple & True and I Keep A Close Watch (On This Heart of Mine) that are powerful in their simplicity. Silence The Din starts with the fatigued statement that “Everybody’s got something for sale”, well it appears James Shakeshaft does too. A record for those who love songs. The album concludes with the song “Endless Melody”, it’s one that has an enduring humanity to it and projects an almost ecclesiastical reverence for the power of song. A fitting note on which to depart from this project. The dimming of the day is underway. Let it ring out and play it loud.

There is a groove and swing going through James Shakeshaft's songwriting, a warm, familiar pouring of Americana, salty, simmering vocals that rumble along sweetly with the group sounds. There's also space given over to the band that lends itself to the pure pleasure and listenability of it's slackness and pace. It has a 60's / 70's vibe that brings to mind the catchiness of Michael Rault or The Mystery Lights. Recommended for sure

By Matt