Kris Drever, John McCusker and Roddy Woomble – Before The Ruin

A follow up of sorts to 2006’s criminally underrated My Secret is My Silence, Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble once again teams up with british folk superstar and uberproducer John McCusker for more understated melancholy folk. Added to the mix here are cameo’s from Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, as well as young folk upstart Kris Drever. To say that the trio make up Scotland’s best new folk talent is possibly stretching it a bit far (and doing a disservice to the likes of James Yorkston and King Creosote), but as a statement it isn’t too wide of the mark. Before the Ruin sees Woomble move ever further away from the angry young man of Captain era Idlewild, and also away from the R.E.M comparisons he drew from his later work with that band. There are many pretty, meandering melodies here ably backed up by his illustrious supporting cast. The title track stutters along, infused with Celtic fiddle calling to mind the Waterson’s or Richard and Linda Thompson. Woomble takes lead vocals on all but one of the tracks here, and it comes as no surprise to learn that the album started life as a second solo album. This is not to belittle the more traditional folk stylings of Kris Drever, whose interplay and harmonizing with Woomble provide many of the albums soaring highlights, as on the beautiful ‘Into the Blue’ and ‘Moment’s Last Forever’. McCusker’s production work gives these songs a warm feel, without pushing them into Coldplay-esque epic balladry. It is easy to imagine the three of them sat around a fire in hats and scarves in the front room of a stone cottage in the highlands. Those familiar with McCusker’s work with Kate Rusby will recognise the same style at work, with Rusby’s storytelling replaced in equal part by Woomble’s introspection. While the style works well here, he is increasingly in danger of making all the records he producers sound like his ‘signature’ sound, rather than the sound of the artists themselves.There is nothing groundbreaking going on here, simply three craftsmen honing their craft, and producing an enjoyable take on traditional Scottish folk. While at first understated, Woomble’s lyrics and the interplay of the voices and instruments benefit from repeated listens as the trio take the listener on a soothing, melodic, and at times bitersweet journey through the Highlands. 69%Roddy Woomble on Myspace