James have shared ‘Beautiful Beaches’ ahead of the release of forthcoming 16th (!) studio album ‘All the Colours of You’ on 4 June. Tim Booth has lived in Topanga Canyon for many years and the song’s lyrics were inspired by the ever-present threat of climate change and how one of his friends lost their ‘fire-proof’ home and flee for the beaches for safety during one of the increasingly regular fires that now engulf the state. However, there’s hopeful optimism in the gently anthemic and melodic, almost gospel sound as Tim passionately sings ‘We’ll take our chances, time to escape’ – it’s a song about making new beginnings and finding the positives from something negative. Seems rather relevant for 2021, doesn’t it?