By J. Brown

The band Stornoway’s debut album is a perfect way to start off the summer months, as its dreamy sound is like a breath of fresh air. In listening to the Oxford-based quartet’s first release, “Beachcomber’s Windowsill,” it’s apparent it could fit within the nu-folk movement that has characterized the music of so many talented singers/bands from England as of late, but it also manages to completely stand apart with its own unique blend of styles, instrumentation, and sounds. Highlights include tracks like “Zorbing” and “I saw you blink,” which are charming, breezy, and make the listener feel like running through some sprinklers in a flower-dotted field on a hot summer’s day. Most of the songs can be described as indie folk-pop that often utilize organic harmonies and melodies that are both soothing and haunting; and while one may be tempted to brush aside their summery and whimsical songs, that would be a mistake as they are not without substance, talented orchestration, and lyrical poignancy.

Stornoway // I Saw You Blink

The members of the band are all talented musicians and many of the songs skillfully paint interesting narratives that say a lot while being remarkably concise and compact. Thus, the little details are not spared on this album and the band shines when they slowly build songs through deft harmonizing. Lead singer Brian Briggs has a very clear, youthful and memorable voice and so far this band has already garnered rave reviews and an increasingly devoted fan base. The bad news is that the album does not appear to be available in the States yet, though amazon.com indicates it will be released on August 10th. The band is currently in the midst of touring in the UK but they will perform two shows in New York on July 7th and 8th. This album’s release stands to make the summer a little brighter.

Here’s the track listing:

Zorbing
I Saw You Blink
Fuel Up
The Coldharbour Road
Boats And Trains
We Are The Battery Human
Here Comes The Blackout…!
Watching Birds
On The Rocks
The End Of The Movie
Long Distance Lullaby