James Alan Gourley

Dreamy, haunting, ethereal, thought-provoking, wistful, spiritual, melancholic, uplifting...A few words that can be used to describe the music and songs of James Alan Gourley...A highly original fingerpick style, poignant, emotive and powerful lyrics, strong and heartfelt vocal presentation and a distinctive guitar sound combine to leave the listener with a lasting impression of genuine quality, real talent and musical integrity.

James Alan Gourley is an electro-acoustic guitarist / singer / songwriter / poet based in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Guitarist and songwriter for many years with popular Glasgow based hard rock band Liars Edge Alan (one of those awkward people who prefers to be called by their middle name!) has spent the last year or two re-familiarising himself with the acoustic guitar and experimenting with a wide variety of alternative tunings having, for the time being at least, hung up his electric to concentrate on a solo acoustic career. Having just recorded his first solo album "Ten Miles Out Of Midnight" Alan is currently in negotiation with several local labels, publishers and distributors with regard to release of his album and has already attracted significant interest from other artists, listeners, podcasters and music-industry personnel on myspace and other websites. Having developed a highly original style of guitar fingerpicking - an eclectic mix of rock, folk, classical and celtic influences - "Ten Miles Out Of Midnight" is a stripped down, no frills recording featuring only electroacoustic guitar and vocals. Containing seven songs and four instrumentals the album is a very personal one - confessional even - reflecting many of Alan's opinions on life and its trials and tribulations. From the intense and haunting opening instrumental "The Things In The Attic" to the hearfelt and emotion laden cynicism of the albums' closing track "A Place In The Sun" Alan takes the listener on a musical and lyrical journey through many emotions including sadness, hope, despair, love and anger. His instrumentals speak to the listener of both beauty and pain in a dreamy and ethereal way with no need for words. Alan is currently playing a series of gigs in and around Glasgow with plans to tour further afield in the new year and then record his second album. Although currently playing solo he is looking at recruiting a cellist, pianist and possibly a double bass player for some larger shows. Alan is also hoping to publish a book of poetry/lyrics at some point in 2008 and will post some of this material on subsequent blogs on this site. When he's not writing songs, lyrics or poetry Alan enjoys sleeping, beer, playing WW2 FPS's and travel. Did I mention he is left handed? That explains a lot....... Many thanks to those who have already expressed interest in Alan's work and he hopes you enjoy the three songs ( full album versions) posted above! Please note the fourth song "The Last Day Of Earth" is NOT a forthcoming album track but an instrumental trance track mixed by Alan from samples from eJay software and samples created by himself using Reason software. The fifth song is a bootleg recording of Liars Edge anthem "Doing The Damage" live at Glasgow Cathouse. NEW..For those that are interested Liars Edge will be playing again mid 2008 in Glasgow with Alan, Damian and a new rythm section (although it would would be lovely to have Brian and Craig back together for one or two gigs) for "Unfinished Business Tour"...Yet a little more damage to be undertaken to ease us gently into "That Goodnight"...Will update..

Currently gigging solo around Glagow at various venues. Previously gigged 300 times with my rock band Liars Edge including gigs with Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro and Ian Hunter.

The wind in the long green grass, the stars on a clear night, The sound and smell of the sea... Love, life, sex and death, relationships, cosmology, wonder, fear, beauty, pain, joy, depression... Nick Drake, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, Black Sabbath, The Wildhearts, Neil Young, Sarah McClachlan, System Of A Down, Segovia, AC/DC, Neil Young, Willy Nelson, Enya, Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen and lots, lots more.... Ghandi, Leonardo Da Vinci, Carl Sagan, Winston Smith, Winston Churchill, William Wallace, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Plato, Richard Dawkins, Carl Sagan, Benjamin Franklin, Stephen Hawking, Nelson Mandela, Che Guevara, Buckminster-Fuller, Charles Bukowski to name but a few heroes...

Yamaha acoustic guitars customised to electro-acoustic, Behringer guitar effects, Martin guitar strings.

Looking for film and television commissions and in 2008 will be accepting sngwriting commisions from other artists. I am currently seeking a major investor with regard to licensing, selling publishing rights to my music. Serious enquiries ony please.