A Wonder Working Stone

drag city records release the new album by alasdair roberts and friends, entitled 'a wonder working stone'. a collection of varied new epics, alasdair's latest is by turns metaphysical, cosmological, phantasmagorical, topical, personal and universal. this is alasdair's most ambitious, fully-realized work to date (an extraordinary claim following the incredible excursions made on his recent releases 'spoils' and 'too long in this condition'). 'a wonder working stone' continues alasdair's long-standing love affair and deeply creative interaction with the traditional music of his native scotland (and beyond), offering an idiosyncratic and nuanced radicalization of that tradition. indeed, he questions the very notion of 'tradition' in the modern age, with songs addressing topics such as mortality (as ever), life, love, sex, faith and history. the arrangements of 'a wonder working stone' are dense with the music of friends, realizing the lifeblood of community, and throughout the album, they are presented with raucously cinematic flair. in the middle of it all, roberts delivers his unique 'scordatura' finger style guitar and distinctive tenor vocals with the backing of a core group of among glasgow's finest musicians - ben reynolds (electric guitar), shane connolly (drums), rafe fitzpatrick (fiddle, rap), stevie jones (bass) and with special guest vocals from olivia chaney, as well as appearances from many other fine players on strings, brass, flute and accordion, all of which edify and expand the musical world of alasdair roberts and all those friends who listen.