Member Since: 4/23/2007
Band Website: www.jamesbryce.org.uk
Band Members: Just Jim. Occasionally hasbeen backed by other musicians around the Edinburgh scene.
Influences: Musical and otherwise: Soft Machine, Caravan, and the Canterbury scene (for the sounds, I think, these odd time signatures), Steely Dan (it's the tantalising chords that do it for me) , Bartok (the rhythms, dissonance, and tunes) Noel Coward (the lyrics and wit), Michael Nesmith (the lyrics-and saying it -oh,so, straight from the belly), Ravel (the orchestration), World Music (it moves my lower belly and eases me), Gentle Giant (the structure of the songs and the f*** the boundaries attitude), 60s Blues Bands, David Ackles (lyrics, arrangements, the crafted nature of the songs), Paul Williams (in a popular vein, verging on the sentimental, but, my god, they work). This Heat, Magma, Scott Walker (go for their own vision) "Classical" Music, jazz etc etc etc - any or none of these - and more - may flavour Jim's work. These are some of things that move me. It's all music ...............................................favourite music? Silence and the listening that flows from that.............................. John Garrie Roshi, Sonia Moriceau, and the web of circumstance that flows. Indeed, anyone or anything, or my interpretation of them, that has occurred and on which attention has been placed.“Decidedly quirky songs ........ somewhere between boogie-woogie and advanced atonality†(The Scotsman) “Somewhere between Billy Joel and the Bonzo Dogs†(Acoustic Underground) Of his second album - Sprinting Round a One Inch Circle “This collection makes no concessions to fashion, but is the work of someone with a clear vision, great confidence in what he's set out to do, and the musical skill and range of styles to carry it off...Very Original lyrics ..... haunting....achingly beautiful†(Out of the bedroom) If we'd known him for the last 20 or 30 years as a singer/songwriter in his own wacky vein, he'd probably sell bushels of CD's, even in a world of current download piracy....... I don't know what happened there. You'll have to ask him yourself.(MGCK)
Sounds Like: see comments above.Depends on the song. On one he might show Steely Dan influences, on another he might appear straight out of the folk scene, on another sound like a music hall artist. One review (of one song admittedly) stated "Boogie-woogie meets advanced atonality". Very particular about his lyrics.
Record Label: Unsigned