James Harries
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James Harries

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Band Folk Singer/Songwriter

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"James Harries Days Like These"

Ambitious collection from siren-voiced singer songwriter

Previous outings by Prague based Harries have seen him work in folk, jazz, blues and country set ups on the international troubadour circuit. Here is exultant vocals in the Jeff Buckley/Thom Yorke vein are counterpointed by extensive chamber pop arrangements, harmonium and mellotron. There are romantic idylls ("Dream") and exotic intrigue (the Mariachi horn enhanced "Ghost Town"). Rather than pinpointing a personality crisis, the variety is a natural by product of Harries 21st century songster approach. Formulae are for marketing men - James is a natural born minstrel instinctively drawn to a varied palette. - Uncut


"James Harries Days like these"

I like this record a lot more now than I will in about six months' time. By then James Harries will surely have become as sick-to-the-back-teeth-of-him-enormous as James Blunt. He has the golden voice - like a cross between Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley; he has that Coldplay like knack of writing songs that are slightly familiar sounding, catchy and unthreatenin; and apparently he can make a really thrilling racket live. (He has been playing small gigs in Prague for years, so he has paid his dues.) The album itself is perhaps too polite, but there's no denying the talent or the potential - The Sunday Telegraph


"James Harries, Days Like These"

British singer-songwriter James Harries has been described as a cross between Jeff Buckley and Oasis by Rolling Stone. But don't hold that against him. The voice is raw, primal, set against folksy 1960s-style orchestration, but there is nothing fey about this boy. He belts out his hymns of grief, loss and failed ambition. Even the quieter numbers, such as the exquisite 'The Day After', have a bruised quality. There's torture in the voice. But there are also moments of tenderness: who could resist a love song that starts: 'You came like a skin-reddening, sleeveless, summer's day'? - The Guardian UK


Discography

Days Like These

Growing Pains

Photos

Bio

A British singer-songwriter with “a golden voice“ (Rolling Stone) and sounding like “a strange mix of something between Jeff Buckley and Oasis“ (Vanity Fair). James has critics scrambling around for comparisons to such distinguished musicians as Tom Waits, Violent Femmes, Tim Buckley and Damian Rice, to name but a few.

James took a trip to Prague a few years ago after busking the streets of Paris with his guitar. Whilst in Prague James met a young lady, learned the lingo, got married and ended up taking residence in the Czech Republic (a fast worker). Since his initial trip James has built an extensive fan base around Europe.

James learned his craft the old fashioned way, performing live wherever possible, every night of the week. James’s unique sound springs from his diverse musical influences and experience. Throughout his career James has played saxophone in different jazz outfits, provided vocals/ guitar to various garage rock bands and even performed in two American country blues bands.

James has been on the road non-stop for the past four years, playing in bars, clubs, theatres and festivals throughout Europe; giving "hypnotic performances" (International Jazz Festivals review) and collecting glowing reviews for his live appearances. James played on his previous album The Straight Street Session with Emil Viklicky (one of the Czech Republic’s most famous pianist/ composers, who composed a melodrama for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra), and the highly sought after bass player Petr Dvorsky (winner of a Czech Grammy for best jazz album).

James has appeared on Austrian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, German, Polish, Slovak radio and television. Between festival appearances, James took time out to write and perform Don’t Pinch Me for the Czech comedy Snowboardaci. In addition to this James recorded six more songs for the soundtrack. The film opened in cinemas November 2004 and became an instant hit, the soundtrack (Sony/BMG) a runaway success going platinum. Since then, he has worked on other films, and has had his music and creative efforts synched to European commercials and campaigns.