Ella Guru

Ella Guru was an eight-piece band from Liverpool, fronted by singer-songwriter John Canning Yates. They released their debut EP Three Songs from Liverpool in 2003, followed by debut – and only – album ‘The First Album’ on Banana Recordings in 2004.

This hugely critically acclaimed album featured in many end-of-year polls, with tracks featured on covermount CDs for Uncut, The Word, and The Sunday Times. ‘The First Album’ was a firm favourite of John Peel, for whom Ella Guru recorded what turned out to be the final Peel session on Radio 1. Other radio sessions included Radio 2, 3, 4 and 6 Music, as well as XFM.

The band toured widely, supporting bands such as Low and The Frames, as well as headlining shows at London’s Union Chapel, Bush Hall, and Water Rats. Ella Guru featured on the bill at festivals including Glastonbury, Green Man, Greenbelt, and All Tomorrow’s Parties.

The First Album – selected reviews

“This might just be the best debut album since Marquee Moon. Magic” *****
Independent On Sunday (Simmy Richman)

Every song displays an unfailing talent for ineffably heart-breaking melody ****
The Guardian

If it doesn’t warm you you probably have no soul ****
Uncut (Rob Hughes)

Music to pull you under, in the softest way, like Nick Drake’s warm pastoralism mixed with some of the deep-blue immersiveness of Tom Waits’s Alice album, and precious only in the positive sense of the word. All you have to do is listen
The Independent (feature)

Beautiful, perfect Sunday music
Guy Garvey (BBC 6 Music)

Quiet, please – sonic wonderment in progress. A shimmering cloud of a record
NME

Tender and fragile but glowing with a warmth that comes across loud and clear…. Special
Rough Trade Album Of The Week

The beauty of it lies in John Yates’ songwriting, which, at its best, nails the yearning, quietly desperate ambience of classic country rock
The Daily Telegraph

Music to melt the heart and calm the soul… CD of the week ****
Evening Standard

The hypnotic vocals of John Yates and Kate Walsh a million times more effective than a swinging pocket watch, or a showdown with Paul McKenna
The Word (Jude Rogers)

Beautifully scarred soul
Dazed & Confused Magazine

This is an album that everyone should own. Essential
Shake and Stir Magazine

It’s not hard to see why the trendsetters are in rapture of Ella Guru. Theirs is a deeply personal and dramatic sound, full of atmosphere in the manner say of John Martyn or Jeff Buckley at their best
The Daily Post

One of the year’s most auspicious full-length debuts. This may well be the most intriguing act to come out of the UK this year
No.1 on the Anti-Hit List (Canada)