The return of the mean fiddler

The Waterboys return to the fray on May 30 with the release through their own Puck label of Universal Hall.

The follow-up to 2000's critically-acclaimed A Rock In A Weary Place, it finds Mike Scott reunited with legendary Irish fiddler Steve Wickham, who has not appeared on a Waterboys album since 1990's Room To Roam.

"Steve's the finest rock fiddler ever," Scott enthuses. "He makes the violin sound like fire and wind – a clear voice from the highlands of the soul."

Reviewed, naturally, in the next issue of Hot Press, tracks include 'This Light Is For The World', 'The Christ In You', 'Silent Fellowship', 'Every Breath Is Yours', 'Peace Of Iona', 'Ain't No Words For The things I'm Feeling', 'Seek The Light', 'I've Lived Here Before', 'Always Dancing, Never Getting Tired', 'The Dance At The Crossroads', 'E.B.O.L' and the title-track.

The even better news is that The Waterboys are due here in October for a full Irish tour.