First single from Canadian singer/songwriter’s new LP Running The Other Way is a quietly intense travelogue
It’s now been a decade since Craig Robertson released his debut solo album, and during that time the Canadian singer/songwriter has made five more recordings that have found him grow into one of the most compelling voices within the roots music community.
Robertson’s latest collection, Running The Other Way, out September 20, is another major step forward — 10 new songs that explore complex personal territory, set against the backdrop of Canada’s vast landscape. That feeling is captured beautifully on the album’s first single, “New Brunswick By Noon,” a quietly intense travelogue with deep personal meaning for Robertson.
“I really love how that song turned out,” he says. “My family’s roots are in New Brunswick and I’ve done a lot of driving to the east coast. I tried to convey a sense of traveling in that part of the country in the overall vibe.”
Robertson now makes his home in Cambridge, Ontario, where he recorded Running The Other Way with the aid of his longtime bassist Jeff Dunk, multi-instrumentalist James McKie (formerly of Jerry Leger’s band the Situation), guitarists Andrew Barker and Ken Yoshioka, with Constantina Stehlik adding backing vocals. Running The Other Way’s finely crafted sound was augmented further through horn parts arranged by Sabatino Vacca, conductor of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, with the final mix done by Robertson’s trusted collaborator James McKenty (Blue Rodeo, Cuff The Duke, Matthew Barber).
Robertson’s performances throughout the album are spellbinding as they intertwine with the range of acoustic instrumentation to create a sensory experience far beyond what might be categorized as traditional folk music. Lyrically, Robertson probes the depths of love on “I Never Know What’s On Your Mind” and “I Wish I Knew What You Were Looking For,” songs that seem to hold a key to universal truths. Other songs, like “Nest And Hide” are just simply beautiful.
Having the luxury of working on his own timetable allowed Robertson to explore every possible artistic angle on Running The Other Way, narrowing down the track list from multiple versions of close to 30 songs he had on hand.
“I feel like I’ve hit a stride I haven’t hit before,” he says. “I released two albums during the pandemic and that helped me hone my creative process, my writing, and how to put it all together at my studio. This album sounds more like me than any other project I’ve done.”
As a staunch R.E.M. fan, Robertson’s musical vision for Running The Other Way may be described as his Out Of Time/Automatic For The People era, where incorporating acoustic instruments in an “alternative rock” context is the predominant theme. It adds up to Running The Other Way being another significant addition to Craig Robertson’s ever-growing catalogue.