After Their top 30 success with 2013’s Tales From Terra Firma, the Cowley quartet Stornoway has given us a brand new piece to sink our teeth into: introducing Bonxie.
The general fear in music is that, by bringing in an external producer, the genuine Charm of a band can be lost to over production. However Gil Norton has managed to cling onto the whimsy of Brian Brigg’s song writing whilst still expanding the album. Unlike previous albums, it is clear that Briggs has taken more inspiration from the sights and sounds of the Welsh coastline than ever before. Norton’s input offers a warm sensation and gives hope to any listener. With cleverly crafted lyrics and swooping melodies, the listener is invited into a spiraling cloud of migrating birds and spring butterflies.
The album opens with ‘Between The Saltmarsh and Sea’, a song which in some ways closely resembles the opening track of the Who’s Quadrophenia – a song certified with introductory beats and working animal calls. The album is a pocket of rising tunes. The single ‘Get Low’ clicks its fingers to 80s melodic Pop infused with that signature Stornoway sound. This then follows through with ‘Man on Wire.’ Inspired by Philippe Petit, the track opens out a Collection of elegant arrangements coupled with crisp production. Of course Bonxie does have its issues. The album, for example, dreams big with the song ‘Heart of the great alone’ but is just disappointing. Norton aimed for luscious production but produced something which doesn’t hit home. The song lacks charm.
Again the album progresses further with the track ‘the road you didn’t take’- a collaboration of the dabbling folk tune of Jackson C. Frank crossed with an 80s power ballad. This track has something special to it. The way all 4 members of the band sing together is uplifting. The separation of the chorus so distinctly from the verses has an odd beauty to it. Whilst ‘the road you didn’t take’ is meticulous with its lyricism, ‘Lost Youth’ is a nostalgic journey back to some of Stornoway’s earliest singles. ‘Lost Youth’ teases us with exotic bird calls and electronic keyboard sounds whilst at the same time manages to really touch the listener. Stornoway’s greatest strength has always been their way with making their fans smile, ‘Get Low’ is a perfect example of this and deserves its place alongside the likes of ‘Zorbing’ and ‘Knock me on the head’.
Bonxie has all the trademarks of a Stornoway concoction but with whimsical pop muscle. The album’s tone gives a sense of humanity- expressing both the warmth of life yet still indicating the clouds which can hang above us. The inclusion of pop riffs has made the album more accessible whilst still retaining all of its charm. Bonxie is a perfect edition to the Stornoway Discography- combining Stornoway’s most attractive attributes with progression.
Words by Matt King
@matt_ajk