Brautigan became famous early on. then spent much of his career experimenting. and Yorkston is as impressed with his variety as his SUCCCSSCS.
‘lle‘s influenced me because his writing is free. he's not scared to move on and do different things. which is something I‘ve tried to do with my music. Plus he was an outsider. too. I don‘t feel like I‘m doing anything that‘s
connected to anyone else. It's nice to be part of
the lience ('ollective (the Anstruther—based musical menagerie). but I don‘t feel what I‘m doing is related to what they 're doing.‘
THE LEOPARD
BY GIUSEPPE TOMASI DI LAMPEDUSA ‘l‘ve just realised how these hooks make me sound.‘ says Yorkston. "l‘his one‘s also got a main character who doesn‘t feel at home in a world which is changing around him.‘
The Leopard is about a Sicilian nobleman who has to hand power away to the middle classes. which doesn‘t seem like it would chime with a kid from Kingsbarns. somehow.
All these three books are very descriptive of
the landscape. they‘re almost like travelogues.‘ Yorkston says. I suggest that his own work also has a strong sense of place (two songs on the new album have place names in their titles. '()rgiva Song‘ and ‘Brussels Rambler“ ).
‘lt‘s’ a lot easier to write about somewhere when you’re not there. because you can look back and see the romance. My songs describe snapshots rather than videos. They're more focussed.’
The ’(‘tir oft/w Len/mn/‘s title track being a case in point'.’
'lt‘s a nod to this book. but it’s also about a leopard that‘s loose in life near my parents‘ house. You‘ve got to guess this animal isn't feeling so comfortable with its surroundings either. It must be thinking. "What the fuck am l doing in Fife.”
THE WELL OF THE SAINTS
BY JOHN M SYNGE
lrish playwright Synge dealt with rural (‘atholic life at the beginning of the twentieth
century. and is most famous for The Play/my of
I/I(’ lli's‘n'm llin‘ld.
"l‘his reminds me of my childhood.‘ says Yorkston. ‘livery summer we used to go down to (‘ounty Cork. and it was there that I started hearing the warmth of traditional music in pubs. 'l‘hat‘s the reason I listen to traditional music now. it‘s a direct connection to my childhood.
"l‘he thing I like about Synge‘s work is the language and the humour. but he‘s also a great travel writer. He wrote a wonderful book about
JAMES YORKSTON
i 5; a;
living on the Arran Islands. The language he uses is slightly archaic. and I try and stick archaic language in my songs. There's a line on the new record. "And you're quick in my ear like a kist o'whistles". which is more colourful than saying. "You’re shouting in my car like a cunt".‘
SILK BY ALESSANDRO BARICCO
More ltalian fiction. this time from a popular contemporary writer who‘s recently collaborated with l‘rench prog-disco duo Air.
"l‘his is almost poetry.‘ says Yorkston. ‘lt's similar to ltalo (‘alvino but more romantic. It‘s a very hypnotic book. and it‘s more about creating a mood than anything.‘
I suggest much of Yorkston‘s intimate sounds are similarly moody and hypnotic.
'I try to make my music subtlc.‘ he says. ‘I try to distil everything down. I get rid of the obvious flashing sirens and clanging bells. and try to have something that stands repeated listens. I make it so that it doesn‘t jump out and bite you in the face. and I‘m well aware that by doing that. 9‘) out of l()() people aren't going to get it. I‘m trying to avoid cheap thrills.‘
Liquid Room, Edinburgh Fri 22 Oct; ABC, Glasgow, 23 Oct. Year of the Leopard is out now on Domino.
19 Oct 2 Nov 7006 THE LIST 15