Alan is currently performing as a solo artist but is looking to recruit a cellist, pianist and possibly a double-bass player for some larger shows and future recordings.
Influences
"I have been influenced by so many musicians, writers, poets, bands, friends, enemies, free-thinkers that it is impossible to name them all.
"Ode"
"We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.
We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o'erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world's worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth."
( Arthur O'Shaughnessy 1844 - 1881 )
That's my influence and I'm proud to be part of it and all those who live by the above. All true musicians, artists and poets identify with these lines. Live by the sword - die by the sword..Live by the word - Live THROUGH the word"
Alan's stuff is definately chill out music to be listened to late at night rather than first thing in the morning. Dreamy, thoughtful, melancholic, angry, wistful, sad..a few words that may fit the bill...Guitarists that have directly influenced Alan's fingerstyle are Mike Oldfield, Nick Drake and Segovia.
Sounds Like
Music from the heart. Terrible cliche I suppose but best way I can describe Alan's music. His material covers many emotions from sadness, through anger, cynicism to beauty, love and hope. His instrumentals are very evocative in themselves with no need for words. Spooky? Ethereal? Dreamy? You decide.
Dreamy, haunting, ethereal, thought-provoking, wistful, spiritual, melancholic, uplifting...A few words that can be used to describe the music and songs of James Alan Gourley...A highly original fingerpick style, poignant, emotive and powerful lyrics, strong and heartfelt vocal presentation and a distinctive guitar sound combine to leave the listener with a lasting impression of genuine quality, real talent and musical integrity.
James Alan Gourley is an electro-acoustic guitarist / singer / songwriter / poet based in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Guitarist and songwriter for many years with popular Glasgow based hard rock band Liars Edge Alan (one of those awkward people who prefers to be called by their middle name!) has spent the last year or two re-familiarising himself with the acoustic guitar and experimenting with a wide variety of alternative tunings having, for the time being at least, hung up his electric to concentrate on a solo acoustic career.
Having just recorded his first solo album "Ten Miles Out Of Midnight" Alan is currently in negotiation with several local labels, publishers and distributors with regard to release of his album and has already attracted significant interest from other artists, listeners, podcasters and music-industry personnel on myspace and other websites.
Having developed a highly original style of guitar fingerpicking - an eclectic mix of rock, folk, classical and celtic influences - "Ten Miles Out Of Midnight" is a stripped down, no frills recording featuring only electroacoustic guitar and vocals. Containing seven songs and four instrumentals the album is a very personal one - confessional even - reflecting many of Alan's opinions on life and its trials and tribulations. From the intense and haunting opening instrumental "The Things In The Attic" to the hearfelt and emotion laden cynicism of the albums' closing track "A Place In The Sun" Alan takes the listener on a musical and lyrical journey through many emotions including sadness, hope, despair, love and anger. His instrumentals speak to the listener of both beauty and pain in a dreamy and ethereal way with no need for words.
Alan is currently playing a series of gigs in and around Glasgow with plans to tour further afield towards the end of the year and then record his second album early in 2009. Although currently playing solo he is looking at recruiting a cellist, pianist and possibly a double bass player for some larger shows.
Alan is also hoping to publish a book of poetry/lyrics at some point in 2008 and will post some of this material on subsequent blogs on this site. When he's not writing songs, lyrics or poetry Alan enjoys sleeping, beer, playing WW2 FPS's and travel. Did I mention he is left handed? That explains a lot.......
Many thanks to those who have already expressed interest in Alan's work and he hopes you enjoy the three songs ( full album versions) posted above! Please note the fourth song "The Last Day Of Earth" is NOT a forthcoming album track but an instrumental trance track mixed by Alan from samples from eJay software and samples created by himself using Reason software. The fifth song is a bootleg recording of Liars Edge anthem "Doing The Damage" live at Glasgow Cathouse.
If you want any additional info please email jamesalangourley@hotmail.com.
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Thanks for accepting my friendship amd for the nice comment. I really like your tunes - sounds like Nick Drake and Syd Barrett comined. Keep up the great work my friend!!!
If your not too busy we're playing King Tuts this Friday with a bunch called 'The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir' which should be great.
Fancy coming down?
Mikey
P.S We're recording a session for XFM tomorrow so keep an eye out for it getting played (probably next week) on Jim Gellatly's show 7 - 10. All the best
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