Constructed during lockdown…Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble has laid out plans for new solo album ‘Lo! Soul’.
The songwriter used his time wisely during lockdown, focussing ideas for a brand new project.
‘Lo! Soul’ was constructed remotely between Roddy’s home in the Hebrides and Andrew Mitchell’s studio in Dundee, with Andrew working as producer and collaborator.
Out digitally on May 21st, a vinyl edition of ‘Lo! Soul’ is set to follow in July with Roddy arranging a series of live shows for late summer.
Roddy explains: “I’m a collaborative songwriter, used to working in a room with one or more people, or a band, and I think my songs benefit from that human connection and response. With lockdown last year my initial reaction was not to work on songs. It offered a pause for us all, and like many others I found myself alone and reflecting. Concentrating on reading and writing. Considering maybe working on a book of poems instead….”
“Gradually though, I started developing songs on my acoustic guitar which I would record on my phone and send on to Andrew in Dundee. Around then, my friend and musician Danny Grant, based in Glasgow, began sharing his wonderful electronic grooves and rhythms with me. I started improvising over these with my poems. It didn’t feel like an album we were creating at this stage though, more a scrapbook of this particular moment.”
“As restrictions eased in the summer I spent three days in Andrew’s studio recording vocals and developing these ideas. Other than this, the album was all recorded remotely – Dundee Glasgow, and the Hebrides.”
New song ‘Lo Soul’ is online now – pensive, meditative fare, the half-spoken vocals show Roddy’s songwriting moving in fresh directions.
Tune in now.
‘Lo! Soul’ digitally on 21st May. Vinyl is out in July.
Photo Credit: Euan Robertson
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