JAMES : WHIPLASH PRESS INFORMATION 2.97

For the better part of a decade, the English sextet James have followed their own muse with little regard for British music trends. Formed in Manchester, England in 1983, James transcended their position as England's C86 progenitors, their hyper-strummed pop eventually giving way to a modern and mature folkadelia.

The new album 'Whiplash' (US release : February 25) displays the whole bandwith found in all of James work : the focused pop of 'Laid', the experimentation of 'Wah Wah' and the tragically beautiful arrangements found on Tim Booth's recent release with Angelo Badalamenti.

The germ of Whiplash began in August 1994, with pencil sketch tracks recorded at David Baynton Power's studio at Cafe Mullet. In the spring of 1995, sessions reconvened with Brian Eno for two weeks at Westside Studio in London and Windings studios in Wales. James spent this time rehearsing and fleshing out matters organically, with Eno encouraging the band to explore every possible avenue.

After the tracks 'Avalanche' and 'Play Dead' crystallised, producer Stephen Hague entered the picture. James spent January and February of 1996 recording the remainder of the album with Hague at Real World Studios and finished 'Whiplash' at RAK studio in London.

Contrary to the advance cassette, two tracks have title changes : 'Whiplash' is now titled 'Play Dead', while 'Angel' is called 'Watering Hole'.

Tomorrow                    Play Dead                     Lost A Friend

Avalanche                    Waltzing Along              Homeboy

She's A Star                 Watering Hole               Greenpeace

Blue Pastures                Go To The Bank

produced by Stephen Hague, frequent interference and occasional co-production by Brian Eno

additional production by David Baynton-Power

mixed by Stephen Hague and Mike "Spike" Drake

engineered by Richard Norris

additional engineering by Steve Williams, David Baynton-Power and Mark Hunter, Sam Hardaker and James Brown

assisted by Graham and Alex at RAK, Jacqui at Real World and Dave Green at Westside

recorded at Rak, Real World, Cafe Mullet, Westside, The Windings

mixed at Rak Studios, London

mastered by Ian Cooper at Metropolis Mastering