Warm and soulful with guitar riffs, driving bass and heartfelt lyrics. Recorded to tape with his band, this is the first track from fourth solo album due in early 2027 via Athens Of The North. Recently performed at We Out Here festival with live dates to follow in London, Bristol and Bournemouth. Supported by BBC Radio, NTS, KEXP, KCRW, WWFM. RIYL Drugdealer, Mac DeMarco, Aaron Frazer, Kurt Vile, Wilco, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates.
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The soulful ‘Whenever I Hear You Call I Know That It's Love’ finds James Alexander Bright bringing the warmth of classic songwriting and immediacy of live performance into the present day.
Released by much loved Edinburgh label Athens Of The North on 23rd September, the song introduces a new, more focused chapter for the Hampshire-based multi-hyphenate musician, whose work has moved between outsider electronic soul, machine funk, mystic folk and experimental dance music. It is the first preview of a fourth solo album, currently being mixed for release in early 2027.
Recorded live to tape at the history steeped Tilehouse Studios with Luke Oldfield behind the desk, the session captures the chemistry of the band enjoying playing together. In the studio, James on vocals and guitar was joined by Gillan McLaughlin on drums, Leo Wyatt on bass and Charlie Carroll on Rhodes piano.
“I wanted the recording to capture the band playing together, rather than everything being built separately,” says James.“It's a song about recognising something real when it arrives, and trying to hold onto that feeling.”

The track arrives at an important point in James’s development as an artist. Alongside making music, he works and lectures in illustration and design, while also raising a young family. His creative output has nevertheless remained constant, with releases through Tape Club Records, !K7 Music and Athens Of The North, as well as collaborations with Girls Of The Internet, Groove Armada, Daudi Matsiko, Fink, Fred Everything, Letherette and Scrimshire.

James recently brought the new material into a live setting at We Out Here festival, where he also guested with improvisational group Speakers Corner Quartet. He will preview the album with his band at three live dates in November:

19th Nov: SJQ, London, N16
21st Nov: Cafe Kino, Bristol, BS1
28th Nov: Green Room, Bournemouth, BH2

The single follows a growing body of work that has received global support including BBC Radio, Bandcamp Radio, Byte FM, FIP, Jazz FM, NTS, KALW, KCRW, KEXP, Soho Radio, Triple J and Worldwide FM. Previous releases have also drawn praise from Mojo, Uncut, Electronic Sound, and Test Pressing.

‘Whenever I Hear You Call I Know That It's Love’ is set for release on Wednesday 23rd September 2026. An album is planned to release in early 2027.

Vocals, guitar - James Alexander Bright
Drums - Gillan McLaughlin
Bass - Leo Wyatt
Rhodes piano - Charlie Carroll
Trumpets - Tommy Peach
Backing vocals and percussion - Allysha Joy