Shooting Our Mouths Off

Tomorrow the band unveil Nothing But Love – The Definitive Best Of, a career-spanning anthology that follows their story from the raw spark of the early singles through to the songs that fans have carried with them for decades, alongside personal picks from the band. And it doesn’t stop at revisiting their past. James have recorded two new tracks – ‘Wake Up Superman‘ and ‘Hallelujah Anyhow‘.

‘Wake Up Superman’ landed on streaming shortly after the compilation was announced. It kicks off with a burst of guitar that carries a funky flair reminiscent of Nile Rodgers, immediately setting the pace for the track’s lyrical urgency. Futuristic synths, an infectious bass-line, and soaring trumpet lines weave together seamlessly, each instrument given space to shine. Rather than overlapping, the arrangement feels like a celebration of the band’s evolution – a snapshot of James today, confident, invigorated, and perfectly in sync.

Meanwhile, ‘Hallelujah Anyhow‘ made its debut this morning when Chris Hawkins gave it its first play on BBC 6 Music. A rework of ‘Pieces of Gum’ – one of the bonus tracks on the deluxe download of Yummy – it opens with Chloe’s stunning harmonies, evoking the same atmospheric richness as ‘Shadow of a Giant‘, before delicate synth flourishes and a steady beat bring in Tim’s lead vocal. In the vein of tracks like ‘Shadow of a Giant‘ and ‘Attention‘, the song unfolds as a layered sonic journey, with each band member’s contribution drifting in and out as the tempo rises and falls. Tim’s vocal range shines on the chorus, which is both instantly catchy and destined to become a live favourite. While the band often insist they don’t focus on singles, it would be nothing short of criminal if this one didn’t make waves on the radio.

You can listen to the premiere of ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’ on BBC Sounds.

You can order the compilation in a range of formats from the band’s official store.

You can see details of Tim, Saul, Jim & Mark’s album launch events here.