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skilful fretwork to bear as well as another vocal. layering on thick harmonies that their heroes Teenage Fanclub would be delighted to brandish as their own. while Stewart is a virtuosic foil for Jones' six strings. ln lirst single ‘l.ove Steals ['s From Loneliness‘ there's one of a half dozen melting pop choruses. There are moments where it's hard not to love ldlewild's music.
The band spent three months in l.os Angeles growing huge beards. having barbecues and even managing to lay down tracks with producer Tony Hoffer. a man previously responsible for manning the faders for Air. Supergrass and Beck.
‘No band should ever produce an album themselves.‘ declares Woomble. ‘Eyetyone needs someone to say. "No. stop that. It's rubbish." Another problem with us is everything is analysed. We are one of the most overly analytical bands in existence. Hanging about with us could drive you into psychiatric care.‘
Lyrcally. ldlewild have previously specialised in painting vivid. if not huger explicit. pictures. Discontinuing his verbal collages. Woomble has developed a greater sense of narrative in his words.
‘Essentially the album deals with people. What makes people think different things about the same thing? The whole idea about warnings and promises is that they‘re actually in each other. a promise in a warning and a warning in a promise.‘
It is inevitable there will be cries that the band have lost some of the aggressive edge which made them popular in the first place. Their recent acoustic mini-tour — a heady mix of fairy lights. red wine and festive atmosphere — signals what the future may hold for the band.
‘For me it finally feels like 1998 is buried and this is the kind of band we are now.‘ Woomble says. ‘Really. we're a bit like an unusual folk band or unusual rock band. We're a bit of a combination of both. but we always have been.'
ldlewild have come together and. in doing so. have come out of their shell. They are unafraid to exploit the tunes within. Five albums in. many bands might be looking around them unsure
16 THE LIST 7 Feb—3 Mar 2005
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‘NO BAND SHOULD EVER PRODUCE AN ALBUM THEMSELVES. EVERYONE NEEDS SOMEONE TO SAY, “NO STOP THAT. IT'S RUBBISH.”
which way to turn. but ldlewild appear to be more focussed than ever. HUMIngs/I’mmivt's is a line example of a band linding their feet at a time which might see them elevated to even greater
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success. They’ve never been fashionable or
belonged to any particular scene but the mainstream musical ear is cocked towards the likes of Snow Patrol and l-‘ran/ lierdinand currently. which would suggest it may be more receptive to the sound of ldlewild than ever before.
As for Woomble. the coffees are drained and it's time for more rehearsals. not before he elucidates on his final thoughts on the future.
‘I think now I feel quite liberated. We could go in any direction we want. we could make a really noisy record. or a folk record. or something much more experimental. We can go and do anything we want and that’s why I think it‘s an exciting time for the band. We're lucky to have made it this far and we realise that. It's such a debut album culture that few get to grow up the way we have.‘
The growing pains and awkward pubescent moments are behind ldlewild now. More members. more tunes. more hair. more balls and they seem set to go. Maybe a change is as good as a rest.
‘Love Steals Us from Loneliness’ is out Mon 21 Feb. The album Warnings/ Promises is out 7 Mar, both on Parlophone. ldlewild play Barrowland, Glasgow, 2 May; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 3 May.
ldlewild aren't the only rock outfit to go through some line-up changes but what happens next is rarely predictable.
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