Released in June 2002, Moving Up Country is the debut studio album by James Yorkston and the Athletes. The album was produced by Yorkston and released on vinyl and on CD by Domino Records. Among the musicians are Fence Collective luminaries Lone Pigeon and King Creosote.
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews from the music press. The Independent called it "an expansive and delicately arranged collection", saying it was "one of the most rewarding and unexpected pleasures of the year."[1]NME, meanwhile, said, "It ain’t rocket science: just the very welcome sound of a country boy made good."[2]
Reissue
In 2012, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the album, Domino Records reissued it in an expanded edition. The ten-minute, non-album single "The Lang Toun" was added, along with a bonus disc featuring demos and a BBCJohn Peel session. Drowned in Sound said of the package: "Moving Up Country deserves to be remembered as one of the noughties’ finest records, and with the help of these fascinating extra tracks, this reissue should see that become reality."[3]