After a five-year hiatus, Scottish rock band Idlewild is preparing for the release of their tenth studio album on October 3rd with a brand new single. The third and final track shared from the upcoming self-titled record is “Like I Had Before,” a melodic anthem as immediate and compelling as anything in the band’s extensive catalogue. It follows the previously released singles “Stay Out of Place,” which earned enthusiastic international support and a spot on the BBC 6 Music playlist, and the emotive, piano-led ballad “It’s Not The First Time.”
Of the single, Roddy states,
Songs can transmit what they have received with a peculiar force, a force which drives communication deep into the listeners mind. Sometimes I’m asked – which one of your albums is your favourite? This one, or the next one is what I reply.
The new album was written in 2024 at Post Electric Studios in Edinburgh and the tranquil Isle of Iona Library in the Hebrides. Produced by guitarist Rod Jones alongside the band, the record captures the latest sound of a group that has been a constant presence in Scottish rock for three decades. The album’s creative process reflects a band that continues to seek out new inspiration while staying true to its melodic roots.
Since their formation in Edinburgh in 1995, Idlewild has undergone a remarkable transformation. They began as a high-energy teenage punk band, known for their raw, buzzsaw riffs and chaotic early records. In the years that followed, they evolved into one of the most compelling mainstream rock acts of their generation, a transformation that culminated with their seminal 2002 album, The Remote Part, which debuted at number three on the UK charts behind Oasis and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Now, with a new album on the horizon, the band is taking their new material on the road. Idlewild has announced a string of in-store and out-store appearances for October, in addition to several tour dates later in the month. The widespread excitement for their return is already evident, with a number of those shows now largely sold out.
