Alasdair Roberts’ book of collected lyrics, Library of Aethers, is out now, and he also kicks off a collaborative UK tour this month with Scottish piper and traditional singer Donald WG Lindsay.
Scottish musician, singer and guitarist Alasdair Roberts recently published ‘Library of Aethers – Selected Lyrics 1994-2024‘ (BoatWhistleBooks – order a copy here). The lyrics are augmented by newly written notes by Alasdair, with original illustrations by Annabel Wright, plus a foreword by the acclaimed poet Robin Robertson and several appendices of ‘bonus tracks’.
Alasdair collaborated with Robin Robertson in 2013 on Hirta Songs, an album inspired by the people, landscape and history of the remote Scottish archipelago of St Kilda, the most remote part of the British Isles. Robertson visited the islands in 2007; upon returning, he wrote two poems inspired by St Kilda, The Well of Youth and Leaving St Kilda, but he knew that the islands weren’t finished with him, and six years later, Hirta Songs was the result. The album also featured special guests, including Robin Williamson of the Incredible String Band on Hardanger fiddle and Corrina Hewat on harp. It’s a remarkable album, one we revisited last year.
In the Library of Aethers forward, Robertson recalls hearing Roberts’ 2003 album, Farewell Sorrow: “I hadn’t heard anything like it since Sandy Denny, Nick Drake or the Incredible String Bands – except perhaps, for the American musicians Will Oldham and Jason Molina…”. Oldham and Molina had recorded with Alasdair as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, a reminder of his penchant for collaboration; Alasdair told us in an interview, “At its best, something alchemical happens in collaboration where whatever elements the individuals involved bring to the process merge to create something exciting and surprising, something of which an individual working alone would not be capable”.
This book naturally concentrates on Alasdair’s song writing, a skill that Robertson also highlights in his forward: “…a musician with the word-hoard, the world-view, the timing and phrasing of a poet.”
As mentioned by Blake in his review of The Fiery Margin (2019): “…his solo albums – are always strikingly contemporary, always steeped in the distinct feel of the present, even as they relish the weird and glorious and sometimes terrifying pageant of history.”
The book lends itself to frequent revisits, and Alasdair’s notes are always engaging, filled with fascinating detail, thoughts and wit. It’s highly recommended.
Get your copy here: https://www.boatwhistle.com/store/item/alasdair-roberts-library-of-aethers/
On Tour: Donald WG Lindsay & Alasdair Roberts
As another of his many collaborations, Alasdair is touring with Donald WG Lindsay in September and November (dates below). To quote from Donald’s bio:
Donald WG Lindsay is a Scottish musician and traditional singer, and a musical instrument designer/inventor best known for developing the Lindsay System for Scottish smallpipes.
Here they both are performing a set of three slip jigs: Hardiman the Fiddler/Tending the Steer with a Heavy Heart/The Foxhunter’s Jig. I think this is going to be a great tour, so try and get to see them on one of the dates below.
Tickets via:
https://www.alasdairroberts.com/live/
https://www.donaldwglindsay.com/live-dates