Crooked Timbers

Crooked Timbers

Crooked Timbers is a collective of musicians, writers and artists led by songwriting and production duo Andy Alston (Del Amitri, Independent Group) and James Kirk (Orange Juice, Independent Group). 

The eclectic group of singers and collaborators on songs include Justin Currie of Del Amitri, Kevin Godley of 10cc, Ken McCluskey of The Bluebells, Frank Reader of Trash Can Sinatras, Graham Skinner of Hipsway, international singers such as Marilyn Carino (Mudville, David Byrne) and Marianne Dissard, and Scottish based solo artists Monica Queen, Lavinia Blackwell, French/Us chanteuse Marianne Dissard, Swiss Disco Queen Tina Lebea, Swedish singer songwriter Sabina Chantouria

The collective’s first release is a diverse, constantly surprising album release On This Ocean. The album’s 11 songs are lyrical collaborations, some drawn from19th-century (sources such as Scotland’s Broadside Ballads) and lyric poetry, and are infused with experimental jazz, California dream pop, orchestral flourishes, disco and ethnic rhythms.

“This surprising collection delivers a smorgasbord that includes dance-orientated pop to yearning heartfelt ballads to intriguing, arty, mysterious numbers to celebratory “in the ‘hood- fabulous” bangers, woven together by Alston’s multi-instrumental/electronic production and Kirk’s endlessly catchy guitar sounds.”

Crooked Timbers is a continually-developing project, conceived with creativity at the centre and will engage with an expanding rotor of vocalists. Each release promises to always be a surprise. It encompasses genres, movements, individualism, thoughts, where the goal is always to be diverse, personal, catchy, intriguing and arresting. 

“ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” — Immanuel Kant

 6 FEBRUARY 2024 • STUART MCHUGH • ALBUM REVIEWS •  

If there’s one upside to the last two years, it’s some of the music produced during this period.

New partnerships have been formed, including this teaming-up of Del Amitri keyboard player Andy Alston and former Orange Juice guitarist James Kirk.

The 11 tracks here are a grab-bag of styles and influences, their own bands included. Opener ‘Smooth as Marble’ drawing heavily from Chic, while ‘Finish That Dream’ is redolent of the late night funk of 1980s Glasgow.

The pair also open up their showbiz black book, members of The Bluebells, Hipsway and Trash Can Sinatras chipping in.

Closer ‘On the Run’ is a soulful end to a collection which, like, everything else, isn’t quite sure where it’s going but is determined to have as much fun as it can getting there.

This article originally appeared in the Portsmouth News.

Crooked Timbers: On This Ocean (Velvet Coast Records) ****

Crooked Timbers is another collective effort, this one forged with wit and soul by Orange Juice guitarist James Kirk and Del Amitri keyboard player Andy Alston, drawing on their musical associates from Glasgow and beyond. Frank Reader of Trashcan Sinatras steers the wistful pop romanticism of Good Ship, Ken McCluskey delivers some Glaswegian gospel on Streetlights and Monica Queen is on breathy form on an alluring debut.

Wednesday, 4 January,n Culture, Live Reviews, Music

Into Music: Choicest cuts from 2024

8. Last Resort – Marianne Dissard/Andy Alston. The auld alliance between France and Scotland rarely sounded so achingly addictive. Sometime Del Amitri man Alston anchors the wanderlusting Mme Dissard and together they create a contemporary accord in which an ancient, fragile melody dances with a perfectly languid, vaguely discordant accompaniment. Hypnotic. Tempting. Want more.