Yim Yames - Tribute To

These collected half dozen songs seem an incongruous release right now. Particularly as Yim Yames (aka Jim James lead singer with My Morning Jacket) recorded them in the wake of George Harrison’ death in 2001. As the title suggests they are a ‘tribute to’ the ‘quiet’ Beatle, but why wait eight years?

James’ was obviously keen to mourn Harrison’s loss and celebrate his influence and as far as this goes it’s a fine EP. The sparse fragility and beauty of James’ keening vocal is supreme and at times the delivery is truly haunting. It’s a simple set up – one man and one guitar (occasional overdubs) in truly minimal, back to basics versions of familiar songs like ‘My Sweet Lord’ and ‘All Things Must Pass’ and the perhaps lesser known ones like ‘Behind That Locked Door’.

Knowing that this was recorded around the same time as My Morning Jacket’s ‘At Dawn’ – a band peak – lends an added frisson, but whilst this EP sees the light of day in aid of charity and it’s a cathartic set of songs I’m left with a desire to listen to James’ in full band mode, singing his own compositions.

www.yimyames.com
www.mekongdelta.co.uk