By my early 20s I was looking for something a bit different, and eventually left Saturnines and became one half of Monk and Canatella - a crazy crossover act consisting of breakbeats, samples, detuned guitars, shouting/rapping and vocals.
We were signed to Bristol label Cup Of Tea Records. We released an album Care In The Community, a few EPs and caused a stir touring with an unpredictable frantic alcohol-fueled live show before signing to the legendary Telstar Records. A couple of years and one album (Do Community Service) later we parted company with the label and I parted company with the band.
In 2010, after a few years in the musical wilderness, and with a new hunger to produce music, I put a band together with Bassist/Producer Martin Dupras and former Saturnine Chris Thomas and recorded and self-released my first solo album Voyage Of Oblivion (2012).
Featuring guest musicians Owain Coleman (Bare Knuckle Parade) & Emily Barker (Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo), it captured the mood of a Blues/Rock band recorded live.. We promoted the album with a series of gigs around the south of the UK through 2012.
In 2013 I started working on my second solo album After All The Wishing…. I wanted to spend more time on the production on this one and go for a different feel, bringing in some of the New Wave influences which I used to hear a lot of on the radio as a kid, combined with the blues & rock sound of the previous album. So I changed the line-up slightly bringing in James Eller (The The, Julian Cope) on the bass, Chris Thomas returning on drums/percussion and this time mixing the album with the help of Swindon-based Producer Stu Rowe (Future Sound Of London, Andy Partridge, XTC).
Featuring an amazing array of guest musicians, including Craig Crofton (Monk & Canatella), Annie Gardiner (The Hysterical Injury), Mark Stewart (The Pop Group), Dom Flook (Saturnines), and the dark narration of writer & storyteller Damien Moran, the album was released in March 2015.
On the 25th May 2018 I self-released my third solo album Three-Dimensional Living which is available on CD or as a download, it was recorded between 2015 and 2018.. The album is accompanied by three music videos for the tracks Gamblers, Anaesthetic Apathetic and Andrew’s Suicide which were directed by Alan Cartwright once again. I’m performing a handful of gigs in June and July to promote the album. Hopefully I will see some of you there!
Jim x