THE metamorphosis into a Caledonia-tinged REM circa 1990 continues unabated.
The yawning gulf between the wild punk thrash of debut Captain and the classic folk-rock shimmer of Warnings/Promises may echo from the smoky diners of Athens, Georgia, to rowdy pubs on Princess Street, Edinburgh, but Idlewild remain a fascinating talent. Showcasing a tender intelligence, touched on but never fully realised on previous releases, the Scottish five-piece make increasingly challenging harmonies that leave their limp-lettuce heroes casting envious glances over the Atlantic. It's their fifth album and you could argue Idlewild have earned their Stipes. Frontman Roddy Woomble kickstarts proceedings with the achingly melodic Love Steals Us From Loneliness - but I Understand It and set-stealer Too Long Awake run it close in the dignified beauty stakes. The bookish philosophers can still recreate the sound of a box of pans being chucked down stairs, as in the clanking Cobain distortion of I Want A Warning.
Updated: 08:51 Thursday, March 10, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article