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Beyond the Clouds - OneCat Mix 1

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Is Your Mind Made Up?

Spirited Away

Rocks and Pebbles was the first single from Borders (Cruel Expectation). It was written about my old group The 'A' Train. It refers to a particular evening in the pub that I spent with Ben Hooton, the fine young cannibal who played bass in said band. I find it an uplifting song, and I was delighted both with how the recording came out, but also with the most fitting symmetry that it was Mr Ben who created a marvellous music video for the song (n.b. on youtube).

Borders (Cruel Expectation)

JAMES MCKEAN AND THE BLUEBERRY MOON - Rocks And Pebbles

I think Jono plays great drums on this tune, which has a Style Council kinda vibe, with some slightly Stevie Wonder changes in the middle. The lyrics are about a group of warriors returning from battle on their ship.

JAMES MCKEAN AND THE BLUEBERRY MOON - In the Twinkling of an Eye

Astrid is a song about the passing of time. Growing older, and watching your children grow older. It is for Sandra, Anthony, and Astrid, and for all parents and children.

JAMES MCKEAN AND THE BLUEBERRY MOON - Astrid

We'd already recorded this song once for Where the River Runs Both Ways, but came up with a nice fresh alternative arrangement so re-did it for Borders. Its one of the most uplifting songs on the record.

At the end there's a snippet of Rocks and Pebbles called As the Hummingbird Hums...

JAMES MCKEAN AND THE BLUEBERRY MOON - Where The Streets Are Paved With Gold

The band were jamming around a riff Chris had with a nice surf-rock vibe. I recorded it on my phone and took it away to write Come Play My Game. It went through a number of iterations and nearly didn't make the cut, but I'm glad it did. It has a fun, demented energy to it, and is the rock-ing-est song on the album.

JAMES MCKEAN AND THE BLUEBERRY MOON - Come Play My Game

At the last One Cat studio session for the record we recorded CPMG and Don't You Give Up, which was one of the newer songs. It was always going to be the closer. 

For this one and Spirited Away, I'd arranged and programmed some synth strings. The fabulous Basia Bartz came to Ross' place the day after we'd watched the Super Bowl to record the real ones. I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. In fact, I think the whole thing is pretty great. 

Also want to shout out to Melanie Crew who sang backing vocals on this song, and a few others on the record.

Borders (Cruel Expectation

JAMES MCKEAN AND THE BLUEBERRY MOON - Don't You Give Up

James McKean is an Iranian-Englishman, born in Oxford and based in London.

The Blueberry Moon are:
Ross Palmer (Solo artist, Yo Zushi) - Electric guitar
Chris Brambley (Solo artist, Catherine Rudie, Gabi Garbutt) - Electric guitar
Matt Lloyd (formerly Southern Tenant Folk Union) - Bass guitar
Jono Bell (formerly Ligers) - Drums

Their releases include Borders(Cruel Expectation) and No Peace For The Wicked - both available via https://theblueberrymoon.bandcamp.com/

James McKean and the Blueberry Moon

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