Blink and You Might Miss Them - Stornoway Announce Album Debut and Spring 2010 Tour

4AD's newest hopefuls, Oxford's breezy folksters Stornoway, have just recently released a rather fresh-faced little ditty called 'I Saw You Blink' as a download and 7" and have now announced the release date of the subsequent debut album as well as a reminder about their upcoming gaggle of dates during April and May to support this activity.

Since their ear-catching debut single 'Zorbing', released in 2009, they have been under the critical micro-scope due to their accomplished forays into the same path trodden by Belle and Sebastian, Midlake and label-mates Broken Records - a fusion of harmonies, alt-folk and a stiff dose of summertime gladness. You can download the new single via Amazon for just 79p (check the link to the right), or £1.58 c/w B side 'Gondwanaland'.

The new album is out on 24th May and entitled 'Beachcomber's Window Sill' and you can get to hear and see the boys play lots of the damn thing during their tour starting from 6th April in Tobermory through the 7th (Fort William), 8th (Inverness), 9th (Isle Of Lewis), 10th (Ullapool), 11th (Aberdeen), 13th (Glasgow) and finally over to Dublin on the 16th, Galway on the 17th and Cork on the 18th. But hold it - that's not all because Stornoway then head back to the UK in May after a couple of European gigs. These take place in Sheffield (10th), York (11th), Manchester (12th), Birmingham (13th) and London's ULU on the 20th.

Even better news is the ticket prices - most are under a tenner, including the London date (which is almost worth framing). The Highlands and Islands dates have GOT to be worth getting on a ferry for if you are up that way!

Paul Pledger