{"product_id":"the-starless-room","title":"The Starless Room","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Starless Room\u003c\/em\u003e is the debut solo album by Gallon Drunk mainman and PJ Harvey cohort \u003cstrong\u003eJames Johnston\u003c\/strong\u003e. The results are a revelation, and not just for James Johnston.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVast in its scope, visceral, intimate, and instinctive, \u003cem\u003eThe Starless Room\u003c\/em\u003e represents a remarkable distillation of both his lyrical obsessions and prodigious, arguably under-acknowledged talent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSuitably, it's the title track that encapsulates the romantic sweep of the record best, with its star at his most intense and Sebastian Hoffman's string arrangements at their most ambitious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGiven the licentious nature of much of his previous work, that this newly mature, refined sound is indicative of Johnston's character may be unforeseen. His influences, however - \"\u003cstrong\u003eBig Star's Third\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Cale's 70s albums\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eLee Hazlewood\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eNina Simone\u003c\/strong\u003e, that sort of thing\" - remain much as they were, if arguably employed with a new, more thoughtful perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFurthermore, his considered approach is indicative of a man with a musical education, both formal and informal. For Johnston, however, the greatest pleasure of all is a simple one: the songs' slow tempos, \"\u003cstrong\u003esomething I adore, like a lot of the Isaac Hayes or Ray Charles albums that I love. It almost feels like I'm listening to someone else's record\u003c\/strong\u003e.\" But it's not. It's James Johnston's debut solo album, \u003cem\u003eThe Starless Room\u003c\/em\u003e. Like he said, it feels just right.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Clouds Hill","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50471365181771,"sku":"1001969","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/e145116d-0832-425d-a2db-ec0ce30e4a6e_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727399905","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/products\/the-starless-room","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}