Roddy Woomble is set to turn solo with a new album and a series of tour dates.
With Idlewild now dwelling in the memory of music fans, Roddy Woomble has decided to step out under his own name. Intrigued by traditional music, the singer has completed a folk infused second album.
Moving out to the Isle Of Mull late last year, Roddy Woomble set up residence in the award winning arts centre An Tobar. Working with local songwriter Sorren MacLean sessions ran throughout last year.
Recruiting a number of guest musicians, Roddy Woomble is set to release the results on 'The Impossible Song & Other Songs’.
Due for release on March 21st, the album moves between folk, jazz and rock with Roddy Woomble eager to coax an atmosphere of communal artistry. “The nature of An Tobar, being a working centre for the arts on the island including a gallery, café and performance space meant that there were always interesting people around and musicians coming to the venue to play concerts."
"We made the most of this. Gordon MacLean, An Tobar’s artistic director and the album’s engineer, would set up a few microphones after a performer’s sound check, or even after their gig, let them hear the song a few times and then record a contribution”.
The original quartet quickly expanded, with contributions recorded by accordion legend Phil Cunningham and famed Dundonian songwriter Michael Marra.
Lyrically, Roody Woomble has explored the continuing relationship between progression and tradition, nature and science. “Song lyrics have a unique ability to blend magical elements into a realistic setting. It’s not a requirement to me that they make sense - the music can give them their meaning. Books I go back to again and again - Lewis Grassic Gibbon ‘Sunset Song’, Knut Hamsun ‘Growth Of The Soil’, Halldor Laxness ‘Independent People’. Stories that manage to be both epic in scale and yet intimate in their humanity, the way that any good song can be."
"I think this is as strong a collection of songs that I’ve ever put my name to and I’m proud that I managed to write and record them in such a collaborative and resourceful way. The record, in many ways, is a scrapbook of six months at An Tobar, with me in the centre”.
Roddy Woomble is due to release 'The Impossible Song & Other Songs’ on March 21st.