Patrick Wolf has revealed that his next release will be a double album revisiting songs from his back catalogue [via Clash].

Entitled Sundark & Riverlight, the all-acoustic record will mark 10 years since the Irishman began his solo recording career.

“This project started when I realised I had reached a 10 year jubilee as a recording artist,” Wolf says. “My first EP came out when I was 19 and in the 10 years hence, my voice has grown with me. I started out playing with just one instrument and singing with no microphones in folk clubs, on the streets and galleries. I missed that raw communication so much and the spontaneous energy of that live situation. When I went to the studio I thought I was going to record a one-man solo album, but I started to dream, and heard bassoons and bodhrans.

“This is my first totally acoustic album and so I made certain that we were working with analogue tape and recording equipment. I went on a mission to find a grand piano with the best bass response still full of character and I was told about Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, but the piano there was too new for me. So Peter lent me his Bosendorfer Grand and later his bodhran and hammer dulcimer – the album and I are very grateful.”

The album will be released on September 25, and supported with a string of UK tour dates [see below].

“As a songwriter I realised that some songs take on a life of their own once released,” he continues. “I never knew that ‘Paris’ from Lycanthropy would become such an anthem for my crowd. Often when I sing the songs live after they are recorded, new words or meanings come to light thenI improvise depending on how I am feeling that night. I thought It was time after ten years to take a moment to understand and document what these songs have grown up to be while I’ve been travelling them around the world the last decade.”

Patrick Wolf tour dates:

August
29 London The Old Vic
November
6 Manchester Lowry (Quays Theatre), Manchester
7 Cardiff The Gate
20 Gateshead The Sage
24 Warwick Arts Centre
25 Glasgow Cottiers
December
9 Penzance The Ritz
10 Bristol St. Georges
11 Brighton St. Mary’s Church