For his twelfth solo album, What News, and
his fourth album focused exclusively on the
performance of traditional songs, Alasdair
Roberts has chosen a typically unusual
and eclectic pair of collaborators: Amble
Skuse and David McGuinness.
On past albums No Earthly Man
and Too Long In this Condition,
Alasdair relied on his deep connection
to the songs to anchor often exploratory
arrangements that would locate the hundredsyears-old
songs in a contemporary milieu. The
resulting works are magnetically compelling
and have been powerfully acclaimed down the
years. For his first project in this vein since
2010, Alasdair was inspired by Scottish singers
such as Jeannie Robertson, Lizzie
Higgins, Duncan Williamson, Elizabeth
Stewart and Sheila Stewart.
What News stands artifacts of history in
the unclear light of our modern day for us to
compare and contrast. As always, it is shocking
and delightful musical entertainment.
