My Secret is my Silence
My Secret is my Silence is the debut studio album by Idlewild lead vocalist Roddy Woomble, released 24 July 2006 on Pure Records.
| My Secret is my Silence | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 24 July 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 2006 | |||
| Genre | Folk | |||
| Label | Pure Records | |||
| Producer | John McCusker | |||
| Roddy Woomble chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | |
| BBC | Favourable link |
| Kerrang! | |
The album, produced by John McCusker, features tracks co-written by McCusker, Rod Jones, Michael Angus and Karine Polwart, as well as the vocals of folk singer Kate Rusby.
Regarding the album, Woomble states that: "the barriers were down so I could do whatever I wanted. I don’t look at it as a solo record – I mean, my name is on it, but it’s more of a collaborative effort. There are ten people on it!".[1]
Woomble also notes that he is "in a position that I can decide to put out records under my own name, playing music that wouldn’t be considered rock music, but I can also play with the band and put out rock albums. It’s not like I wake up in the morning with a beard and a tammy and warble folk songs, and the next day it’s all leather jackets. The two things run in tandem pretty well".[2]
Writing and composition
In 2013, Woomble noted that My Secret is my Silence was "written mostly in a one-bedroom flat in Glasgow, in the comedown from the Warnings/Promises era of Idlewild. It was a time of long tours and record company pressure. I had a longing for wide open spaces, glens, rivers and trees, and to be rid of the trappings of a moderately successful major label rock band. So [the] record is all about escapism".[3]
Track listing
- "I Came In from the Mountain" – 2:40
- "As Still As I Watch Your Grave" – 4:45
- "Every Line of a Long Moment" – 3:39
- "My Secret is My Silence" – 4:12
- "Act IV" – 4:22
- "From the Drifter to the Drake" – 3:37
- "If I Could Name Any Name" – 3:57
- "Whiskeyface" – 2:47
- "Waverley Steps" – 4:05
- "Under My Breath" – 3:44
- "Play Me Something" – 3:40
Personnel
- Michael Angus - acoustic guitar (4 and 9) electric guitar (5 and 6) vocals (6)
- Dave Burland - vocals 4, 6 and 11
- Ian Carr - acoustic guitar (1, 8 and 11) lead electric guitar (2 and 10)
- Andy Cutting - accordion (1, 2. 8, 10 and 11)
- David Gow - drums, percussion (2, 3. 4. 5, 6, 8, 9. 10 and 11)
- Rod Jones - acoustic guitar (3 and 4) electric guitar (2, 3,4, 5, 6. 8,9, 10 and 11) vocals (2, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. 10 and 11)
- Ailidh Lennon - bass guitar (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and U)
- Michael McGoldrick - flute (2. 8. 10 and 11) whistle (5) uillean pipes (2, 6 and 11)
- John McCusker - violin (2, 3, 4, 5 8 and 10) cittern (6, 9 and 11) tenor guitar (7) Wurlitzer (3)
- Karine Polwart - acoustic guitar (7) vocals (2, 4, 6, 7 and 11)
- Kate Rusby - vocals (1, 5, 6, 9 and 11)
- Donald Shaw - harmonium (5, 7 and 9) Wurlitzer (3 and 7)
- Roddy Woomble - lead vocals (all songs)
