Playing the guitar (obviously), writing lyrics and poetry, philosophy, psychology, science, nature, astronomy, meditation and self-hypnosis, history (especially anything to do with World War II), cooking.

TOP TEN FAVOURITE MOVIES (no particular order) The Warriors, Saving Private Ryan, King Kong (original), Spartacus, The Great Escape, All Quiet On The Western Front (original), Very Bad Things, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Braveheart, One Few Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

TOP TEN MUSICAL HEROES (no particular order) - Mike Olfield, The Ramones, Nick Drake, Black Sabbath, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Wildhearts, Judas Priest, Enya, Wolfgang Amadaeus Mozart.

Too many to mention but some favourite authors are Richard Dawkins, Tom Robbins, Charles Bukowski, Peter Cave, Noam Chomsky, Carl Sagan etc.

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The pursuit of truth, the search for wisdom, gazing at the stars, wondering, freedom of speech, beer, the sound of the sea, sleeping, honesty, integrity, pleasures of the flesh to name but a few...

Neo-conservatives, fascism, the Spice Girls re-union, racism, war for oil, capitalism, road death statistics, crime, communism, New Labour, dumbed down media and television, religion, traffic wardens who outnumber bobbies on the beat by 10-1, the dreadful state of Great Britain, America under Bush, greed, violence, Ikea flat-pack furniture, nationalism...moan moan moan...

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 fingericking - 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.




He hopes you enjoy the full album version of "The Things In The Attic" posted on this site.




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.......