Zu Beginn ihrer Karriere in den späten 90ern waren Idlewild die rauhen Brüder der Post-Brit-Pop-Szene. Idlewild waren immer stärker von US-Bands beeinflusst als ihre Zeitgenossen, was soweit ging, dass Sänger Roddy Womble zu Anfang mit amerikanischem statt des heimischen schottischen Akzents sang: „I was singing in an American accent, y’know! Of course it’s how we found our feet – I was deeply into Tom Barman (dEUs), and even though he’s Belgian he sang in an American accent, and I thought if he could do it so could I. But after the first album, I found another voice, my own voice“.

Die ersten Single wie „Chandelier“ und das Album „Captain“ waren im Grunde Punk mit Noise-Rock-Einflüssen, doch nach und nach wurden Idlewild melodischer und ließen mehr R.E.M.-Referenzen als die Hüsker Dü – Vorlieben ihrer Frühzeit anklingen. „The Remote Part“ von 2002 ist ihr großes Album, das sie selbstbewusst als schottische Band zeigte (siehe den hervorragenden Closer „Scottish Fiction“), die die Hymnenvorlieben („You Held the World in Your Arms“, #9 in den UK-Charts) ihrer südlichen Nachbarn nun ebenso pflegte wie sie weiterhin R.E.M. & Co durchklingen ließ.
Im Oktober erscheint ihr neuntes Studio-Album.

* Your three favourite Punk singles/songs?

– The Ramones ‚I wanna be sedated‘,

– Richard Hell ‚Blank generation‘,

– The Stooges ‚Down on the street‘

* A record that will make you dance?

– The Pogues ‚If i should fall from grace with god‘

* Your favourite song lyrics?

’nothing really matters much, it’s doom alone that counts‘ (Bob Dylan ‚Shelter from the storm‘) springs to mind today, but you can

go to any Dylan song and find gold. He’s the greatest lyricist there is.

* The best “new” artist / band right now?

– I’d say Kneecap:
They tell the truth, and are not afraid to do so, and they are also funny, original, unique.

* Your favourite Scottish band/ artist ever?

– A toss up between The Blue Nile and Teenage Fanclub. Both very evocative of Glasgow to me. Both bands write great songs with memorable melodies, and Paul Buchanan from the Blue Nile is my favourite Scottish singer.

* Your favourite song about rebellion/revolution?

– Bob Dylan ‚Masters of war‘ or Patti Smith ‚People have the power‘ or Public Enemy ‚Fight The Power‘

* Your favourite song this year so far?

– I’m a big Wilco/Jeff Tweedy fan, and he’s just released a new single ‚one tiny flower‘ – which is reassuringly great. When Wilco put out a new record, it’s usually my favourite album of that year.

* Your favourite movie about music – and why?

– Bob Dylan ‚Don’t look back‘ – much copied, but never bettered. Still looks and sounds so cool.

* R.E.M., The Smiths or Pixies – which one do you prefer and why?

– I love all three bands, but if i had to pick one, probably REM, just because they had such a long run of wonderful albums – Between 1982 – 1992 everything they released was fantastic, and also no two records were the same, they were always evolving their songwriting. Great live too.

* Best song you’ve written/recorded

– The most popular one is ‚You held the world in your arms‘ so maybe that’s the best too.

* Your favourite german song/record?

– Either Kraftwerk ‚Trans europe express‘ or NEU! 2

* Your favourite record of all time?

– almost an impossible question, but REM ‚Murmur‘, Patti Smith ‚Horses‘ and Bob Dylan ‚The Basement Tapes‘ are up there for sure.

(Antworten: Sänger/Songwriter Roddy Womble)

Das neue, selbstbetitelte Album von Idlewild erscheint am 3. Oktober