When Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble released a solo album last year, it was a potentially ominous omen for fans. Not only had the Scottish songwriter grown a rather large beard, got married and turned thirty, but My Secret Is My Silence was essentially a folk album, and consequently a huge departure from his band's usual rock fare. Had he grown tired of the indie existence, planning to dissolve Idlewild for a more laid-back lifestyle? Not so; if anything, Idlewild are back with a more vociferous edge to their music than ever. Recalling the driving indie-punk sound of early albums Hope Is Important and 100 Broken Windows, Make Another World, the quintet's fifth full-length LP, is their first since splitting from EMI and signing with reactivated 1960s label Sequel. 2002's The Remote Part has certainly been their most successful album to date, but its more mellow approach divided fans, some of whom expected another vigorous indie workout. The Tony Hoffer-produced follow-up WarningsPromises was more reflective still, which is really what makes Make Another World's turnaround so surprising. Oh, they're still very capable of contemplative compositions; the title track here is an uptempo-but-considered creation, Future Works imports a marching drum beat and subtle trumpet riff, and Once In Your Life is also an unhurried, but slightly too wordy and self-indulgent effort. Most of the other tracks are wall-of-guitar folk-rock rumbles, though, all frantic energy coupled with Woomble's characteristic heavily-accented drone. Standout track You and I Are Both Away begins as a deep and dark spoken-word hymn before erupting into a barrage of buzzing strings, and No Emotion's almost '80s melodic pop beat is comparably interesting. On the whole, though, Make Another World may be listenable, but it's still predictably Idlewild - regardless of their history or previous divergences in style. They're a band undoubtedly good at what they do, but that doesn't make them - or unfortunately, this album - in any way special.
