Idlewild - Scottish Fiction (The Best of 1997-2007)

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 8 / 11 / 2007

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Review

I must have missed the point at which Idlewild stopped being young up-and-comers and became elder statesman, but -woahh - they are now celebrating their ten year anniversary with a greatest hits compilation, which even includes some hits. I remember reading an interview with Roddy Woomble, published in the 'NME' as the band were releasing 'Warnings/Promises' in 2005, and he was more than a little taken aback by the first question, essentially "why should we care about Idlewild in 2005 ?" Roddy’s answer was reasonable - because Idlewild still make good music, and in fact the same writer gave the album nine out of ten. But the need to ask was telling. At some point, Idlewild had stopped being young, adventurous and different - its just that we couldn’t fingertip when. For whatever reason, it was 'Warnings/Promises' that failed to strike a chord beyond the band’s existing fanbase. Its disjointed combination of folk, ballads, scratchy indie and stadium rock made for a good album, though not quite their best work, but it prompted a re-think. Roddy took the folk away and made an exquisite solo album, and the band made the strident ‘Make Another World’, their best album for an independent label. But Parlophone have opted to end their relationship with the band with a greatest hits. Gomez, another 90's band now deemed uncool, were screwed over by a greatest hits record that ignored the fact that their new album on a new label was their best work in years. Luckily, this album includes the new songs, and that means one of their best singles, ’No Emotion’. The greatest hits format does few bands justice, but it can work. Idlewild get it just about right. Their best singles are all here - and are a reminder of just how good their best work really has been. Then a few well chosen album tracks replace the weaker early material. With the exception of the lumpy ’I Understand It’, a dull song weaker than most of the band’s B-sides, there is rich variety here and no miss-steps. So, if you plump for the single disc edition, you’ll be more than satisfied. If you’re the sort of person who reads this website, I’d be astonished if you don’t like Idlewild. Here’s a good chance to catch up. But, if like me, you’ve heard all the albums then disc two of the special edition is where this comes alive. A live concert is presented, alongside home movie-ish clips. This provides a good summary of their career (most of the singles in a live context, and a few curveballs in the forms of 'Satan Polaroid', which was on their debut mini-album, and ‘I’m Happy To Be Here Tonight’, the most melodic tune on their well liked but shaky debut proper. We also get a few bonus interviews, live tracks and acoustic versions. But the real juice comes from 17 videos. Idlewild are known to be film buffs, and they took the opportunity to make some great videos, on a range of budgets. The reason they have a disproportionately keen band of hardcore fans can be found in the attention to detail found here. Roddy also provides an illuminating voiceover commentary. Idlewild are likely to be remembered (though I hope we won’t have to remember them yet, and that there will be more albums to come) as a band that briefly enthralled the music press with their energetic early work, but then failed to truly break into the mainstream. ‘Scottish Fiction’ provides you with a better picture. No, they didn’t ever have a huge hit - but they do have an interesting and engaging body of work, a sense of style and ability to connect with and move a fanbase that stuck with them for a decade.

Track Listing:-

1 You Held the World in Your Arms
2 No Emotion
3 Roseability
4 When I Argue I See Shapes
5 Love Steals Us from Loneliness
6 American English
7 These Wooden Ideas
8 El Capitan
9 A Modern Way of Letting Go
10 Let Me Sleep (Next to the Mirror)
11 I'm a Message
12 In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction
13 I Understand It
14 Little Discourage
15 As If I Hadn't Slept
16 Live in a Hiding Place
17 Make Another World
18 A Film for the Future
19 Everyone Says You're so Fragile
20 Actually It's Darkness
21 A Distant History
22 Poor Thing

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