Stornoway Release ‘Beachcomber’s Windowsill’ and ‘Tales From Terra Firma’ Reissues

Today, Stornoway release the reissues of their first two albums, Beachcomber’s Windowsill (2010) and Tales From Terra Firma (2013). Repressed on vinyl for the first time for either title in over a decade, these new editions will come on black ReVinyl housed in FSC-sourced card sleeves.

“It means a lot to us to have these first two albums reissued on vinyl. The recordings on these albums are all homemade – captured on an 8-track portable machine, and recorded in wind-battered barns, churches, camper vans and college bedrooms. They all bring back powerful memories of that exciting time in our career. We poured our hearts and souls into these albums and the songs still speak to us today, and feature heavily in our live shows. We hope you enjoy revisiting them as much as we have!”

– Brian Briggs

Stornoway are the indie-folk quartet formed by Oxford University students Brian Briggs (vocals, guitar) and multi-instrumentalist Jon Ouin, and later joined by South African brothers Rob (drums) and Oli Steadman (bass). Having honed their sound as a DIY guitar band unusually rooted in folk tradition, putting out a series of word-of-mouth EP’s before finally signing to 4AD, Stornoway released Beachcomber’s Windowsill in May 2010, a thrilling debut album that gained wide-spread critical acclaim for its powerful melodies and emotional depth. Featuring singles ‘Watching Birds’, ‘I Saw You Blink’ and ‘Zorbing’, it quickly gained Silver status in the UK.

Tales From Terra Firma followed in March 2013, a more ambitious, complex and imaginative body of work that explored ideas of birth, death, marriage and coming of age. Written by Briggs in his ‘adventure capsule’ campervan in urban Oxford, they recorded in locations across the city before producing it themselves in their garage studio ‘Stornostudios’, with help from mix engineer George Shilling (having loved his work with Teenage Fanclub). Hailed for its intimacy, charm and resistance to outside influences, Stornoway’s second album was as unique and special as their first.

Following a hiatus since 2016 after the release of third LP Bonxie, Stornoway returned in 2023 with new album Dig the Mountain!. Now the trio of Brian, Jon and Oli, their sold-out UK tour that ended at Kentish Town Forum on 3 November has been extended, continuing in February 2024. Stornoway recently released their first ever Christmas single, ‘Excelsior’, featuring Gwalia Welsh Male Choir, taken from the Dig The Mountain! deluxe album, which is available now through Cooking Vinyl – head HERE.

Both represses come in their original sleeve designs. Beachcomber’s Windowsill is complemented by a stunning sleeve by designer Chris Bigg, featuring illustrations of nature motifs pulled from the themes of the album. The sleeve for Tales from Terra Firma was designed by artist Kirini Kopcke, who uses fragments of lyrics to create a picture for each ‘tale’.

For order information, head HERE.