THROUGHOUT his career as Idlewild frontman and as a solo artist in his own right, there has always been a sense of place about Roddy Woomble’s work.

Often inspired by the singer’s wanderlust, from Edinburgh’s Waverley Steps to the sun-drenched Californian hills and the rustic harbours of his current Hebridean home, Woomble’s words have always painted a vivid picture.

On his current tour, he’s stripped back his musical accompaniment down to his own occasional acoustic strum alongside fellow Idlewild member and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Mitchell, allowing his words to take centre stage.

It proved an unexpected stroke of brilliance that brought lightness to songs from the darkness of his most recent solo record The Deluder, including Like Caruso and First Love Is Never Returned.

It felt more like a relaxed evening with friends than a choreographed performance, and in Roddy’s own words it was like we were all just hanging out together.

He seemed as relaxed as at any point in his career as he casually chatted between songs and crooned his way through highlights from his own back catalogue.

Any worry that the stripped back arrangements would leave him exposed were rubbished from the outset.

Mitchell’s understated brilliance on keyboards and guitar allowed classic Idlewild tracks You Held The World In Your Arms, American English and Scottish Fiction to shine as much as they ever have.

As a prolific artist who rarely stays still, Woomble’s next move remains anyone’s guess. But his latest incarnation ranked alongside his very best yet.