No Earthly Man

Alasdair Roberts

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drag City
• ASIN: B0007L7PSM
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,431 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Updating canonical Scottish folk tunes is a rather unfashionable niche, placing these songs within the context of modern/alternative rock is an even tougher chore, but it's one that Scottish neo-traditionalist Alasdair Roberts approaches with pluck and somber intensity. Previously with the band Appendix Out, No Earthly Man is Roberts' third album as a solo artist and it is undoubtedly his most difficult to approach. His previous album, Farewell Sorrow, was a collection of joyful, filigreed songs dedicated to love and lust that could illuminate a room with its glowing warmth. No Earthly Man, however, may as well have been called, "Welcome Back, Sorrow" as it is a collection of traditional death and murder ballads.

Aided by Belle and Sebastian's Isobel Campbell on cello and vocals and producer Will Oldham, these songs are delivered with studied, hushed reverence, but also touched with strange and subtle additions: ghostly guitar feedback, mysterious thumps and crashes, off kilter keyboards--all of which serve to set the rather dark mood of the album. Roberts may not have the most supple voice, but his brougish tenor carries ample emotion, it's just that the emotion here is decidedly downcast, with the subject matter ranging from infanticide to death at sea to the poisoning of a youngster. While No Earthly Man can be a challenging listen it is, moreover, a stirring collection of traditional Scottish music served up by an attentive, inventive and loving craftsman. --Steve Duda

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, December 25, 2005

By	Rebecca Gavin "Vegwell" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For those few throwbacks still cringing at the mention of "folk music", I warn you - stand back. "Folk" music is roaring into century 21 with a world weary awareness of, if not a response to the allmighty rock and roll. Alasdair Roberts, late of Appendix Out, with the aid of the brothers Oldham, brings trad tales of spare and aching beauty. These are not songs of innocence or idealism, but dark retellings of murder most foul. Infanticde, fraticide, poisoning...you didn't think our good Nick Cave dreamt up the murder ballad, did you? Of whatever human beings are capable, it has been immortalized in song. Roberts' tremulous voice serves the material most naturally and the arrangements are simple but wise. If you are tired of mega production and self-consciously clever song writing, try this bittersweet dose of ancient fresh air.