Middlesbrough singer-songwriter Alistair James releases ‘Start Again’ into the world as a recorded track, 15 years after writing the song, which has been a live staple in his sets over that time.
This context raises the question of whether the weight of time imbues a composition with feeling and meaning, but there can be little doubt that James is striving for those qualities here – and hitting them.
With only an unostentatious guitar line as backing, the vocal takes centre stage, serving as the gravity of the track. The observational lyrics, focusing on everyday emotions and struggles, are matched by vocals that mostly strike the right balance of sweetly listenable restraint, with the exception of a moment of scat and some late-track showiness, which is tasteful in its own way.
James wears his many classic pop and rock influences on both sleeves, creating a fully grounded piece, candied with lyrical hope. The artwork of chewing on toast, matching the song’s opening gambit, is a microcosm of the general approach – and it’s seductive, complete with an accompanying dog to reel in all comers.
You can listen to the track now on all major streaming platforms.
