A first glance of the album cover one might think that this is a rock album. I know I did. It just gave me the gothic rock vibe. However, when I listened to it I was astonished. There is no way in hell this is a rock album, this is folk! A complete opposite way. Beachcomber’s Windowsill is the debut album by Stornoway launched in May. They are a British alternative indie pop band.
Stornoway in fact produces very dreamy, whimsical, folksy breezy songs. You can’t help but to imagine the peaceful countryside during the summer.
At first listening, it is noticeable that Stornoway writes very melodic songs that uses many type of musical instrumentals. Besides, one can said that Stornoway is somewhat back to basic. Their music is quite au neutral, a raw production of album. The usage of electronic production is kept at minimal. Every single tracks in the album is a piece of it own. It does not end up like other album where the tracks is kind of similar to one another. They produced quite a variety of music that is evocative and almost all of them is really good.
The album starts off with Zorbing, a very dreamy whimsical folksier song that never fail to capture my attention. It is very good! It evokes this sense of harmonious feeling with its’ a bit child-like lyric. We Are The Battery Human is a very impressing song with it choir, swelling strings and the trumpeting. Fuel Up is a very beautiful song. Its lyric is beautifully written, describing phases of life of a boy. Stornoway has become a story teller in this song.
The Coldharbour Road itself is quite a melancholy song. It started with sorrowful heavy-violin tune and mournful voice of Brian Briggs. The song slowly pick up towards the end. “And now you're going tears are flowing, 'Cos while you're leaving I'm still believing”. The Coldharbour Road is like a hidden delight in this album waiting to be savour.
Watching Birds is like the hidden rock star in Stornoway. In fact, Watching Birds is the rockiest song in this album. The strumming of the bass guitar. The drumming and the cymbal. The screaming. And the clown like trumpet at the end of the song. Perhaps, Briggs need to rock once in awhile.
The last track, Long Distance Lullaby is the perfect song to end this album. It is kind of the way for Stornoway to announce the ending of this album to the audience. “I'm back and I'm through the door now, hear me go bouncing down the hall now. Goodnight goodnight soul mate. " The lyric is bitter sweet. Quite a stark contrast with the opening track, Zorbing. Zorbing is very joyful in tune. Long Distance Lullaby is like moody. As if like, they are not ready to put down the curtain to end the show and departing is too painful.
There are actually two version of “Zorbing” official video. I prefer the 1st one though.
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