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Stornoway - Stornoway Announce Further Details of Second Album, Tales From Terra Firma
Stornoway : Stornoway Announce Further Details of Second Album, Tales From Terra Firma
8th January 2013

Released on 11th March (19th in North America), Stornoway's second album, Tales From Terra Firma, is an album of stories – birth, death, marriage, coming of age: The Big Stuff.

As is true of classic songwriting partnerships, lyricist Brian Briggs' eloquence coupled with his crystalline voice unites with Jon Ouin's stunning arrangements to form a musical mirror. Tales From Terra Firma reflects powerful life experiences, the great outdoors and the passing of time, which is a major theme of the album. Indeed, the songs were mostly written in a camper van in land-locked Oxford but on listening, the yearning for adventure and the freedom of the coast and wild places is palpable. And with that, Stornoway have self-produced a record that marks a new sophistication in compositional and, in particular, lyrical qualities, while still retaining the charm of their debut that so many fell in love with.

Bass player and other band multi-instrumentalist Oli Steadman transformed into the band's “super geeky esoteric experimentalist” as well as tutor to Brian in the finer points of learning Logic. Oli and Rob's parents' garage in Oxford became band HQ : Stornostudios. It was here that together they brought Tales From Terra Firma into being. Whilst the band strengthened their grip on experimenting, arranging, song writing and the artwork underneath; the majority of the tracks are simple, melodic pop songs that are warm and inviting and quintessentially Stornoway.

And so to the songs themselves. Brian suggests: “The title of the album conjures up for me, the romantic notion of an adventurer, exploring new lands and reporting on his experiences. Discovering what it is to be human and an enthusiasm for adventure, which I feel is true of me.” This notion was seized upon by drummer Rob Steadman who worked in conjunction with artist Kirini Kopcke to bring an action-adventure sensibility to the album's artwork. Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Herge and Ukiyo-e, and using the ligne claire style, the aim was, as in the songs, to contrast the drama and adventure of the high seas with something very rooted in the real world.

Stornoway tour the UK throughout February and March, as listed below. Listen to the first track from Tales from Terra Firma, 'Knock Me On The Head', at the foot of the page.

February 2013
8th - Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
9th - Arts Centre, Pocklington
10th - Westgarth SC, Middlesbrough
11th - Oran Mor, Glasgow
12th - The Sage, Gateshead
14th - Town Hall, Oxford
15th - Town Hall, Oxford
16th - Quarterhouse, Folkestone
18th - New Greenham Arts, Newbury
19th - Mr Kyps, Poole
20th - Arts Centre, Pontadawe
21st - New Slang @ McClusky's, Kingston
March
11th - Kazimier, Liverpool
12th - Band On The Wall, Manchester
13th - Cockpit, Leeds
15th - Open, Norwich
16th - Leadmill, Sheffield
17th - 53 Degrees, Preston
19th - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
20th - Concorde 2, Brighton
21st - Komedia, Bath
23rd - Assembly, Leamington Spa
24th - Arts Centre, Exeter
25th - Guildhall, Gloucester
27th - Forum, London