Idlewild
Everything Ever Written
(Empty Words)
Is it the six-year break between records or the introduction of two new band members that makes Idlewild's latest album feel so different? Evidently a bit of both. During the hiatus, Roddy Woomble followed a solo career in the folk genre, and that mostly acoustic environment has strengthened his vocal technique: he now sings with a richer, deeper tone that simply wouldn't suit the punky-grungy shouty bits from Idlewild's early years.
Meanwhile, the arrival into the fold of Luciano Rossi and Andrew Mitchell means that Idlewild's trademark melodic rock choruses can expand to fuller-sounding five-man harmonies. And those choruses are important: they are the anchors that will steady the nerves of long-term fans faced with an Idlewild eager to head off in all sorts of unexpected directions.
The band set the new agenda from the start, as Collect Yourself's funky moves contain a heart-skip-a-beat bass line, a disco twang guitar and a prog-rock synth solo. Current single Come On Ghost slips a Roxy Music sax solo into rolling waves of rock noise, Like A Clown relaxes to country slide guitar and All Things Different pulls itself back from a precipice of free jazz. Thrilling stuff, with bags of pop melody to remind us just how well these guys can write.
ALAN MORRISON
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