James Yuill 'Turning Down Water For Air' album

London-based singer/songwriter James Yuill will release his debut album, Turning Down Water For Air, in North America on May 26. Turning Down Water For Air is a brilliant fusion of Yuill’s many influences, from the emotional songwriting of artists like Nick Drake, Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens to the dynamic beats of Justice, Chemical Brothers and Aphex Twins. With his debut album, Yuill has managed to create a sound of his very own.

Following the release of debut hit single “No Surprise” last month, Yuill releases his second single, “No Pins Allowed,” today via iTunes as part of a 6-track EP that also includes a remix from Post War Years and a cover of Radiohead’s “Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box.” (Full track listing below.)

Musical director of KCRW and host of the influential radio program Morning Becomes Eclectic Jason Bentley has been playing Yuill’s first single, “No Surprise,” regularly, and invited him to take part in “RadioActive: A Dance Party For KCRW” this past Saturday, April 11 at the Legendary Park Plaza in downtown LA. Yuill also played to crowded rooms in New York City, Brooklyn, and Echo Park over the course of 6 hectic days in the US.

Seeing Yuill live is a unique experience: one minute the audience is drawn in to the tender simplicity of his voice and acoustic guitar, the next minute their feet are moving to the dazzling array of beats and effects pumped out by his laptop and boxes of tricks. After a show at the Mercury Lounge in New York City, popular blog The Music Slut wrote, “Mr. Yuill’s set was not only delightful but melodic & entrancing as well. Surrounded by a slew of knob twiddling devices and backed by an acoustic guitar, James’s sound is akin to a heavenly collaboration between Kings Of Convenience, Dan Deacon & David Byrne.”

Since the UK release of Turning Down Water For Air this past October 2008 on UK independent label Moshi Moshi Records (Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Au Revoir Simone), Yuill has garnered a huge amount of critical attention, including features in NME, Dazed and Confused and Clash Magazine, who featured him as “Best Newcomer 2008.” Yuill is also a sought-after remixer, who has worked with artists like Au Revoir Simone, Tilly and the Wall, David Holmes, and fellow folktronica artist Rod Thomas, as well as some up-and-coming UK artists.

“This debut album has Yuill attempting to fuse acoustic folk with Italo disco and aggressive techno... it works brilliantly.” -- NME

“James’s sound is akin to a heavenly collaboration between Kings Of Convenience, Dan Deacon & David Byrne.” – The Music Slut

biography
Like many music lovers of his generation, JAMES YUILL has a passion for both the emotional songwriting and atmospheres of artists such as Nick Drake, Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens and the visceral beats and dynamic rhythms of Justice, Chemical Brothers and Aphex Twin. Unlike anyone else however, Yuill has fused these seemingly disparate influences into a magical sound of his very own, something that hasn't gone un-noticed; he is quickly becoming an influential part of London’s popular “folktronica” scene.

Since the UK release of Turning Down Water For Air this past October 2008 on revered independent label Moshi Moshi Records (Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Au Revoir Simone), Yuill has garnered a huge amount of critical attention, including features in NME, Dazed and Confused and Clash Magazine, who featured him as “Best Newcomer 2008.” UK radio also jumped on board, with DJs including Huw Stephens, Colin Murray, Zane Lowe and John Kennedy all championing him on air.

A hectic live schedule including SXSW, Radio One Big Weekend, Latitude Festival, Club NME and numerous sweaty, dark venues across the globe, has added to the tangible buzz around James Yuill. Seeing him live is a truly unique experience: one minute you're drawn in to the tender simplicity of his voice and acoustic guitar, the next minute your head's spinning and your feet are moving to the dazzling array of beats and effects pumped out by James's laptop and boxes of tricks - not bad for a one man show that fits neatly into a reconditioned guitar case.

Yuill is also a sought-after remixer, who has worked with artists like Au Revoir Simone, Tilly and the Wall, David Holmes, and fellow folktronica artist Rod Thomas, as well as some up-and-coming UK artists.

Nettwerk Music Group signed James Yuill at the end of 2008 and will release his North American debut album Turning Down Water For Air this spring.

press quotes
NME
“This debut album has Yuill attempting to fuse acoustic folk with Italo disco and
aggressive techno... it works brilliantly.”

Guardian
“Why can’t all singer songwriters be this imaginative? Lusciously sad laptop folk with a dancefloor pulse”

The Times “Track Of The Day”
“Dreamsy beatsy poppy goodness…”

Independent
“This laptop composer has musical vision. And it is unique.”

Dazed & Confused
“Giant Thrashing laptop weirdness from a unique one-man band…One of the
musical affairs of the century.”

Clash Magazine
“[James Yuill] has set ears alight with his red-hot brand of folk-tronica.”

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James Yuill - Turning Down Water For Air