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X Marks The Spot - Ghostpoet feat. Nadine Shah 

Album review: Bonnxie - Stornoway

Album: Bonxie

Rating: 9

Record label: Cooking Vinyl 

Release date: 13th April 

Having firmly established themselves within the British music scene, this week Stornoway have released their third album, Bonxie. Over the past few years, the quartet have become one of Oxford’s biggest exports, with a wide following not just in this country but around the world. Crowdsourcing their newest album, the amount raised is a testament to the popularity of the band, and Bonxie is perhaps their most anticipated album yet.

As their sophomore album, Tales From Terra Firma, marked a clear progression from their debut, Bonxie also shows a new direction for the band. For the first time, they’ve completed the album with the help of a producer, Gil Norton, who has worked with the Pixies and Foo Fighters  in the past. Where on the second album, each song seemed a ballad, with many clocking nearly five minutes in length, album number three takes a step back, returning to a more traditional Stornoway sound; however, there is a fresh take to the music showing the development of their style.

The theme of nature takes on an even larger importance in Bonxie than in its predecessors; the album title takes its name from a large Hebridean seabird. Leadsinger Brian Briggs’ previous work as an ornithologist plays a significant role within the album, for the band not only create music with their extensive array of instruments,  but the songs of over 20 species of birds are also entwined with the music on the album.

Between the Salt Marsh and the Sea opens with a foghorn effect, part of the mysticism of Stornoway’s music. It’s a haunting tune, but perhaps is a slow start to the album. However, second track ‘Get Low’, is vibrant showcasing the best of Stornoway with harmonious vocals, intricate instrumentation and catchy choruses; the band at its best.

Man On Wire is the standout track of the album. Inspired by the eponymous documentary film about a man walking on a wire between the Twin Towers, the song has an epic, expansive sound which does justice to the subject matter. Briggs sings, “When the morning mist lifts away you’ll see me reaching for invisible thread. For a momentary burning dream I’ll be remembered.” Lyrically, it’s perfect, with poetic metaphors and dreamy images.

After the frenetic energy of Man on Wire, The Road You Didn’t Take, provides a refreshing juxtaposition. From the bustle of New York City to a more personal single road, the band move from a worldview to a more introspective look at man in relation to nature. The song has images of a journey through the wilderness, with references to summits, mountains and waves. The album takes a more whimsical turn with ‘Lost Youth’, whilst Sing With Our Senses offers the best of Briggs’ soaring vocals. Starting with a simple and gentle melody, the song crescendos throughout building up to a rousing, spine-tingling finish.

Part of Stornoway’s appeal lies in the band’s range of genres, with the anthematic ‘When When You’re Feeling Gentle’ greatly contrasting to the lullaby feel of We Were Giants, with Briggs singing, “tell me of the time there were deep dark lakes in the scree torn valleys” adding to the romanticism of the album of the whole.

The Heart of The Great Alone has a dramatic, marching quality, contrasting with the dulcet tones of ‘Josephine’ that follows. For those who have seen the band play live over the past year, the unplugged acoustic version of ‘Josephine’ has been a highlight; the studio recording retains the stunning rawness and sheer emotion that the band convey in a live setting through their flawless vocal harmonies. Love Song of the Beta Male is a triumphant closing to the album, with exhilarating trumpets and bells. However there in an extra treat right at the end of the album as it closes with a minute of birdsong, providing a moment of peaceful reflection. The vibrant mix of Stornoway’s music is encompassed here, catering for all moods as they move from fast-paced upbeat music, to the tranquillity of nature.

The interweaving of instruments, vocal harmonies and melodic quirks make it a delightful album, each listening unearthing more musical pleasures in the rich tapestry of sounds. With another wonderful album added to their already exceptional repertoire, the Oxford quartet prove that with Bonxie they’re soaring high.  

Read NotAnotherRainySunday's interviews with Stornoway's bassist and drummer, and for more information visit the band's website. 

Sweet Baboo announces new album, The Boombox Ballads

Released on 14th August on Moshi Moshi, The Boombox Ballads will be the fifth album from Sweet Baboo (aka Stephen Black). After the widespread critical acclaim for his 2013 album, Ships, the follow-up has been hotly anticipated for a while. For the latest album, Black has stuck to his roots with ambitious instrumentation and melodious vocals. On 'Sometimes' the first single taken from the album, Black provides all the instrumentation himself apart from the strings proving his impressive musical ability. 'Sometimes' will be released on 18th May and the music video can be watch below. Read NotAnotherRainySunday's interview with Sweet Baboo here. 

www.sweetbaboo.co.uk
www.facebook.com/sweetbaboomusic
http://www.youtube.com/sweetbabooVEVO

Introducing: Tremorheart

Genre: electro-pop 

For fans of: Twin Shadow 

Tremorheart first came to NotAnotherRainySunday's attention at a BBC Oxford Introducing evening at Oxford's Cellar back in January. The band formed in 2014, but that night was the first time they had performed together in front of an audience, after a year of writing and recording material. Despite it being their first appearance, the harmonies were tight and the set as a whole was impressive and at a level some bands can only aspire to reach. The 80s influences on their music are clear, but Tremorheart provide a modern twist creating a fresh and exciting sound. The band have already released a cassette with tracks, 'Don't Talk About Paula', 'Be Still' and 'There's Nothing More', which can be ordered here. You can listen to 'Don't Talk About Paula' below. 

New video: Get Low - Stornoway

Ahead of the release of their much anticipated third album, Bonxie, next month, Oxford band Stornoway have released the video for their new single, 'Get Low'. With an ornithologist for a lead-singer, birds are often a theme within the band's lyrics, but the new video takes it one step further with geese following the band as they drive. The band have stuck with trusted director, Hilary O'Hare who has directed several of their videos in the past, creating continuity with the band's major theme of exploration in the natural world.  The shots are stunning - typical of a Stornoway music video, which often feature natural landscapes to match the sense of freedom within the music. You can check out the video below. 

Bonxie will be released on Cooking Vinyl on 13th April and can be preordered now.

Visit Stornoway's website for more details. 

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Top 10 Albums of 2014

10) Sivu - Something On High 

Sivu first came to NotAnotherRainySunday's attention at an intimate Sofar Sounds gig in Oxford, and since then the musician has moved from strength to strength. His debut album, Something On High, is hardly the most cheerful of albums, but its bleak lyrics are elevated by soaring melodies and intricate instrumentation. He's sure to be one to watch over the coming year. 

9) Toumani & Sidiki Diabate - Toumani & Sidiki 

Father and son duo, Toumani & Sidiki Diabate are two of Mali's best known musicians, and have found widespread praise in the west for their kora playing. The first time they've created a record together, their eponymous debut is a stunning showcase of Malian instrumentation. Toumani Diabate once described music as the "mineral wealth" of Mali, and the album as a whole is powerful proof of how important music is to the nation as part of their cultural heritage. 

8) Caribou - Our Love 

The sixth studio album from Dan Snaith (under his stage name, Caribou) is a vibrant and danceable album, which still retains a thoughfulness throughout all the tracks. Citing the birth of his daughter as inspiration for the more personal approach towards the album, Snaith points out that it's an album of reflection, making for wonderful listening. 

7) Elbow - The Take Off and Landing of Everything 

In recent years, Elbow's popularity has seen a dramatic surge, culminating in an arena tour of the UK in April 2014, and it's not hard to see why. The band are known for their power ballads, lending themselves well to huge venues. On their latest offering, The Take Off and Landing of Everything, 'New York Morning' follows this formula, but it still manages to sound fresh, a theme prevalent throughout the whole album. 

6) Metronomy - Love Letters 

For their fourth album, Metronomy stick to the similar roots of its predecessor, The English Riviera, and it's no bad thing. 'I'm Aquarius' is reminiscent of the previous album's 'Corrine'  as the vocals of leadsinger Joe Mount and drummer Anna Prior are beautifully intertwined. However, in some respects the latest release witnesses a progression in their sound - Love Letters is refined yet vibrant, and a truly triumphant album. 

5) Lykke Li - I Never Learn 
Written after a breakup, I Never Learn is an album of heartbreak. It's the shortest of Lykke Li's albums so far, but each song is a powerful ballad. Vocally, the singer could not be stronger, however her voice retains a delicacy which sweetens the harsh electronic backings. Across the album, Lykke Li proves that although it's short, it's her finest record yet.

4) Wild Beasts - Present Tense 

Present Tense is Wild Beasts' fourth album, and the band show no sign of slowing down. With each of their albums featuring widely on end of year "best album" lists, the Kendal band have proved that their music is like no other. The distinct falsetto of  leadsinger, Hayden Thorpe, which sets the band apart from so many, once again is sumptuously featured on their latest album. Present Tense is a richly textured album, with Thorpe singing on 'Wanderlust', "we're decadent beyond our means... we're high in our poverty". Even the simplest of Wild Beasts' songs sound like symphonies. 

3) Snowmine - Dialects Brooklyn five-piece Snowmine
triumphed with the release of 'Dialects'. Recorded in a church, the tracks on the album have a fresh and expansive sound. Across the album, the vocals are reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, but the comparisons end there. With strings and clarinets, the sound is rich and vibrant, with each song on the album seamlessly flowing into the next, meaning a unified sound spans the record. The album is perfectly produced, with recurring instruments providing overarching musical themes. However this isn't to say the tracks are repetitive. Each individual song is a masterpiece, meaning 'Dialects' is safely one of the best albums of 2014.

2) Spring Offensive - Young Animal Hearts 

In November, Spring Offensive sadly played their last gig after a decade together. However, 2014 proved to be a fantastic final year for the band, with the release of Young Animal Hearts in March, making their breakup even more poignant. The album opens with the darkly beautiful 'Not Drowning But Waving', a clever take on Stevie Smith's poem 'Not Waving But Drowning'. Spring Offensive are a poetic bunch - the band name is taken from the Wilfred Owen poem of the same name. Their songs follow great narratives, and refreshingly are not always about love. It's hard to fit Spring Offensive into an exact genre, but perhaps this was a blessing for the band. Although they are no longer together, their music can survive listen after listen without ever growing old. 

1) Francois & The Atlas Mountains -  Piano Ombre 

After gaining widespread critical acclaim for their last album, E Volo Love, Francois & The Atlas Mountains returned with a stunning follow-up in Piano Ombre. The first of their albums to be recorded with a professional producer, the album surprisingly doesn't sound too over-produced, as is often the case when musicians hand over the reigns. Instead, the raw beauty of E Volo Love remains. Piano Ombre is more paired-back than its predecessor, relying more on lead singer, Francois Marry's fragile voice, which expresses far more emotion that a sea of instrumentation ever could. A group combining musicians from both sides of the channel, the majority of the songs are in French with  the lilting lyrics adding to the sublime majesty of the music. However, even when singing in English, the subtleties of Marry's voice are not lost. It's a testament to his talent as a musician that the transition from French to English is seamless. There's something distinctively French about the minimalism of his music, which at the same time is so emotive. Although instrumentally simple, the melodies are consistently strong throughout the entire album. The serenity of Piano Ombre shows a development in their sound as the band has matured. It's an exquisite album, thoughtfully produced to perfection. 

Top 10 Singles of 2014

10) Metronomy - I'm Aquarius

9) Warpaint - Love Is To Die

8) The National - I Need My Girl

7) Belle & Sebastian - Nobody's Empire

6) Alvvays - Archie, Marry Me

5) Aquilo - You There

4) Francois & The Atlas Mountains - La Verite

3) Snowmine - Columbus

2) Spring Offensive - Hengelo

1) Lykke Li - No Rest For The Wicked 

Single review: Nobody's Empire - Belle & Sebastian

10/10 

The newest single from their upcoming album 'Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance', Nobody's Empire is a cheerful indicator of what Belle & Sebastian fans can expect when the album is released in January 2015. The song is a return to true Belle & Sebastian roots, after the previous single Party Line, a Hot Chip-esque track,  hinted at a more electro-pop sound from the band. According to lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, Nobody's Empire is the "most personal song" he's ever written, and it certainly seems it. The video has a nostalgic feels to it with old film reel setting the scene of an 80s Glasgow - the formative musical years of the band members. The band's ninth studio album will be released on 19th January, and you can currently catch the band on tour. For more information, visit their website.