Shayfer James’ fourth studio album Summoning, released last Friday, is his most lyrically personal album to date. The indie folk singer from New York still features his typical grandiose theatricality and character-driven songs within the ten tracks, but the intimate moments make it really stand out in his discography. Most of the album was written in solitude by the frozen oceanside of New Brunswick, Canada. That isolation drives the immersion into James’ psyche.
The opening track, “Imagine That,” sets a vibe of cheeky but self deprecating reflection, starting the album with the lyrics, “Alone in my throne, what a coward king I’ve become” and going on to ruminate on a relationship that got away. “One Foot in the Grave” is the album’s vibrantly catchy lead single, with a horn line that will have you shaking your hips to the beat and a mantra that “love wins” despite it all. “Headed Home” is a rare tender love song that wouldn’t be out of place being played as the first dance at a wedding. He speeds things back up again with “Lighthouse Keeper,” which is the album highlight for me personally. It’s a jaunty accordion-driven sea shanty adjacent tune for anyone with self isolating tendencies, and it has a very fun music video to go with it. It’s been stuck in my head for days and I don’t expect it to leave any time soon. Cinematic ballad “Yellow House” is devastatingly autobiographical, setting childhood trauma to a somber strings section. Album closer “Winter Hymn” is an ode to James’ time in Canadian seclusion, and the beauty that can be found in even the coldest of times. In true hymn fashion, it ends with a gospel choir singing “Glory, glory, come the day!” It is very important to me that album closers sound like they are truly and properly closing out an album, and this one is a grand finale more than worthy of the job.
Summoning is only 34 minutes long, but every minute packs a punch. There are heavy feelings to sit with, but there are also quirky compositions to lighten your every step. The overall feelings of hope and comfort, in spite of the horrors of being alive, will have me coming back to this album again and again.
Catch James playing these new songs across Canada in June and in Europe in September.
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