Some fans have despaired at the direction Roddy Woomble has taken of late. The Idlewild frontman has long since left his band's acerbic strain of lo-fi indie/ punk behind and instead found an increasing comfort in the warming environs of Gallic folk. Alongside Kris Drever and John McCusker, Woomble has indulged this passion once more with 'Before the Ruin' and what results is further evidence that Woomble has found a new songwriting lease of life in this gentile old genre.

As a natural successor to Woomble's '06 solo album 'My Secret Is My Silence', 'Before the Ruin' is an uncomplicated but impressive collection of melancholic folk rock. Recorded over the course of six afternoons in McCusker's Edinburgh living room, the album reflects such an organic birthing right across the board. From it's simple percussion through Woomble's graceful Gallic burr, this album wears it's lo-fi recording process on its sleeve and is all the better for it.

With the help of guest appearances from Radiohead's Phil Selway and Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake (who doubles up occasionally with Roddy on vocal duty), the album's trio of songwriters have seemingly relished the newfound creative spark discovered from working alongside one another for the first time. There's also a freedom of expression at work across 'Before the Ruin' that presents itself in all manner of shapes and sizes. Yet it's really when Woomble purposely pushes his reflex songwriting style (an understandable inflection given his Idlewild history) to one side and allows Drever and McCusker to take the reins that this album really comes alive.

With flutes and whistles adding the fine detail to the strong Gallic feel, 'Before the Ruin' quickly establishes itself as an emotionally-rich and organic collection of indulgent folk rock that feels strangely timeless from the very first listen.

'Before The Ruin' is released on 15th September through Navigator Records.

Stephen Jasper
www.navigatorrecords.co.uk