AFTER five years away, Scottish alternative rock band Idlewild return with new album Everything Ever Written, set for release in February next year.

The band’s 8th studio recording represents a new chapter, both personally and creatively.

Produced by the band’s guitarist Rod Jones and mixed by John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) whom they collaborated with on their 2002 release The Remote Part and augmented by new members Luciano Rossi (piano, organ and vocals) and Andrew Mitchell (bass, guitar and vocals), Everything Ever Written is Idlewild’s most eclectic output to date. The album features 12 tracks of alternative rock woven together from strands of Scottish folk, Americana and Hebridean psychedelia.

“The album was predominantly written on the Isle of Mull”, vocalist Roddy Woomble explains.

"The record soundtracks a period of transition. Working without time constraints gave the whole thing a creative freedom.

"Idlewild is a new band to me now; I’m excited for the future.”

Lead track Collect Yourself, was recently premiered on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6 Music show and is available as an immediate download exclusively with album pre-orders.

In October 2014 the group completed a sold out acoustic tour of unique, intimate venues throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, re-introducing themselves to live audiences after a half-decade break, performing re-worked versions of old songs as well as songs from the new album.

The still, idyllic settings chosen for the performances hint towards the sense of space afforded in writing and recording the new album, which will be supported by a run of full live shows in spring 2015.

As part of the run of shows the band will be playing The Institute in Birmingham on March 10.