CD Reviews - James Hollingsworth - 'Alive in 2005'  -  By Kevin from Bristol Rocks

This CD has James playing live. The recording quality however, is surprisingly good for a live album.

Now James recently had a sparkling review on Bristol Rocks for the part he played in the fine Jebo album Sinking without you. So I feel that I have the right to criticise this CD.

I have listened to the CD a number of times, at first I didn't think that I liked it, but this bloody stuff grows on you. I don't know if all of the songs are original, but they are new to me.  James's acoustic guitar playing is excellent and his voice is the second instrument. He uses his voice in a similar way to John Martyn, where the vocal blends and merges with the acoustic backing giving the illusion of more than one instrument.

James also plays the harmonica on some of the tracks and this, and despite my hate of this instrument stemming from Bob Dylan's miss-use of it, is fine since it adds a different aspect to the acoustic set.

I recently saw James play live recently at the Tantric jazz cafe where his set was ruined by a poor sound system. I would love to see him play live at a festival on a sunny afternoon. I think that he would go down very well at this type of event.

This album shows James for the accomplished acoustic artist that he is. Alive in 2005 may not initially be to everyone's taste, but listen to it a few times and I guarantee that the music will grow on you.

James Bristol Rocks Page

Please note that the text above simply represents the VIEW of the author.