Stornoway’s new album, “Tales from Terra Firma,” investigates the joys of love, contemplates the meaning of loss and examines the power of nature — all while pushing and reshaping the boundaries of alternative indie music.
The band hails from Oxford, Britain, where their debut album, “Beachcomber’s Windowsill,” was recorded and released in 2010 to great acclaim. The album, which climbed its way to the top 15 in Britain, lead to tours in Europe, Australia and North America.
“Tales from Terra Firma” stretches and expands on the band’s premiere record without losing sight of the band’s honest approach to music. However, the ambitious tracks on the new album carry more substance and delve into increasingly complex experiences.
Brian Briggs, the lead singer and principal songwriter of the group, provides emotional lyrics from which Jon Ouin, talented composer and multi-instrumentalist, crafts textured and bold compositions. Brothers Rob and Oli Steadman complete the quartet, and these four friends combine to create music brimming with both curiosity and immediacy.
The four members play a multitude of instruments on the album, which keeps listeners on their toes and adds texture to each track. These instruments range from the well-known guitar, bass and drums to the more foreign dulcimer, qanun and mbria. Mix in mandolins, trumpets and clarinets, and the band’s unique sound borders on tumultuous euphony without ever crossing into cacophony.
The album is not for the faint of heart — it forces listeners to pause and reconsider. Every song on the album has intelligent, emotional and provocative lyrics that draws in the listener and leaves them with a mind full of ideas and a heart full of emotions.
The first track, “You Take Me as I Am,” is an upbeat celebration of love. Briggs’ sweet, aching voice soars through joyous memories of his wedding as an organ, trumpets and guitars tumble and rattle together in the background, creating an uplifting and beautiful portrayal of real-life love.
The chorus, “You take me as I am, and you turn me into someone/Who could step right off this rock, and fly out across the ocean/
‘Cause if I were to die today, well then it wasn’t all a waste” breathlessly announces love as enduring and unconditional.
Other standout tracks include “The Bigger Picture” and “The Ones We Hurt the Most.” The first combines a deceptively carefree melody with haunting lyrics that investigate the tragic death of a close friend, which in the end concedes that, “In the bigger picture, there’s no answer to your prayers.” The latter is so saturated with pain and heartache that the listener can practically stretch their fingers out and run them through the darkness.
The title places the album on solid ground. However, the band’s emotional depth, musical talent and honesty to themselves should have copies of the album soaring off shelves.
Stornoway is also scheduled to perform May 16 at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City.