Ahead of his dazzling new album, What U Gonna Do is the latest single from Jim Noir, the mystical Mancunian one-man band. Channelling a host of ‘60s rock bands from The Kinks through The Doors and The Beatles, the single is another slice of perfect pop from the man no-one (yet) is calling the Jeff Lynne of the modern age. As ever, every sound you hear is Jim – from the backwards-phased guitars to organ solo and harmonies. On the B-side, another ace tune – Look What You’ve Done To Her cracks out an Animals-inspired riff, wah-wah guitar solos and filtered vocals over a louche beat.What U Gonna Do is a taster of the many treats Jim sets out on his new album, the eponymously-titled Jim Noir. His first to be conceived as a whole rather than a story-so-far collection of EPs and singles, this latest album even has a central theme, telling the story of a doomed astronaut and his reflections on life on earth. Jim Noir released his debut album, Tower Of Love, in 2005 to cult and critical acclaim. In the three years since its release, he has toured the world with his merry men, “helping the earth regain some of its melody,” as he puts it. Back in Manchester, he’s been whittling away his time with various garden-shed projects, such as his attempt to assemble the first wasp orchestra. Thankfully, he eventually decided to get back to the studio last year, and emerged, bleary eyed, clutching his latest opus. And when it came to recording album number two, Noir found he had more facilities at his disposal. “There was a bit more money floating round so we used Abbey Road this time,” he says. “There was a mastering effect we put on it with the preset title 'Noir Bedroom Effect'. This is how me and George Martin got the sound together.”Jim Noir will be on the road in March and April, fitting US dates around a trip to South By Southwest and returning for gigs in London and Manchester.
ON TOUR 1 Mar – La Maroquinerie, Paris 7 Mar – Chorlton Irish Centre, Manchester 12 Mar – TBC, Austin, Texas 17 Mar – Viper Room, Los Angeles, California 20 Mar – Living Room, New York, New York 24 Apr – The Water Rats, London 25 Apr – The Roadhouse, Manchester Jim Noir