Alasdair Roberts’ forthcoming album, The Fiery Margin, (out 13th September, ye folking masses!) is another classic work of new traditionalism from the veteran guitarist and singer, moving fluidly from acoustic to electric textures with the added sensation of Irish violist Ailbhe nic Oireachtaigh, whose nimble playing embodies and expands the parameters of the material in the best fashion of Alasdair’s approach. He also taps the percussive elan of Alex Neilson and the expansive bass playing of Stevie Jones, who have paired together with him on a couple of previous albums.
On the second single “Common Clay” (out today and also our Song of the Day), touches of percussive elements, acoustic guitar, and harmonized vocals aid Alasdair’s process of gently excavating the mysterious roots of our shared music at a consonant, yet still enigmatic depth. Lush and ornate, “Common Clay” is transportive, accessing another place and time while providing the current timeline with another fine song.
Alasdair muses on the track: “The song ‘Common Clay’ perhaps represents the more mischievously ludic side of The Fiery Margin. Although essentially a nonsensical pop song, it nevertheless seeks to dissolve the purported opposition between linear and cyclical time (as defined by Mircea Eliade), offering a view of the creative process in all its ineffability as something both reverentially sacred and transgressively profane. The influence of the fascinating ancient Chinese text ‘The Classic of Mountains and Seas’ (as translated into English by Anne Birrell) can possibly be discerned in it.”
The track also features Mary Hampton on vocals and Neil Sutcliffe on accordion
Recorded by Luigi Pasquini at Anchor Lane Studios in Glasgow, The Fiery Margin has the distinction of being an exceptional recital whose origins could be ascribed to traditional Scottish, Irish and English music, not to mention the sounds of the world beyond. Alasdair Roberts is an underrated talent — one that we imagine will sound even better in the gifted ears of generations to come. As for you, dear citizen of today’s world — don’t wait!
OCTOBER 2019 TOUR
17th: GLASGOW Glad Cafe
18th: ST MONANS Futtle (solo)
19th: EDINBURGH Sneaky Pete’s
20th: NEWCASTLE Gosforth Civic Theatre
21st: MANCHESTER The Talleyrand
22nd: TODMORDEN The Golden Lion
23rd: BRISTOL Colston Hall
24th: LONDON St John on Bethnal Green
25th: BRIGHTON The Rose Hill (solo)
26th: SHEFFIELD The HUBS (solo)
27th: SINDERHOPE High Forest Community Centre (solo)
*all shows with Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh, Alex Neilson and Stevie Jones unless otherwise noted
Pre-order The Fiery Margin via Drag City | Amazon
Photo Credit: Audrey Bizouerne