Last month, saw the release of “What News”, the latest album from Alasdair Roberts on Drag City. As Glenn pointed out in his review here, this is the fourth album on which Alasdair has focused exclusively on traditional song, not that this is any run of the mill album. He joins forces with David McGuinness on keyboards and sonologist Amble Skuse to “structure soundscapes using electronic methods.” Glenn concluded that this union of musicians resulted in an album that is not only magical, clean and refreshing but that it offers a set of minimalist music and vocal clarity that is starkly beautiful in all its boldness.
Keeping that boldness they carved so beautifully on their album, they have replicated this move visually in their video for the traditional ballad The Fair Flower of Northumberland, also our Song of the Day.
Directed by Martin Graham and Trevor Thomson and filmed in the University of Glasgow (where David had the opportunity to play the well-tempered and aged pianos he plays on the record) they called on Glasgow-based performance artist Sgàire Wood to bring an otherworldly and captivating presence.
Order What News via Bandcamp (Digital) | Norman Records (CD/Vinyl) | Drag City (CD/Vinyl/Digital)