If any of you wrote off Stornoway after their first full-length studio excursion, namely "Beachcomber's Windowsill", you'd be very well advised to invest in the follow-up - it is a belter!

"Tales from Terra Firma" continues the weather-beaten rhythms and wide-eyed storytelling theme of before, but with a more organic approach and way more instrumentation that suggests they've been putting their pennies earned so far to good use. First single "Knock Me on the Head" is as sprightly and joyous as "Zorbing" or "I Saw You Blink", while the album's opener "You Take Me as I Am" manages to pull together their entire supply of instruments - brass, keyboards, percussion and a stirring tune that is the aural equivalent of a cup of hot sweet tea.

Enough talk of the album - its loyal fanbase of eager purchasers needs rewarding with proper live action. After almost completing their spring jaunt, Stornoway will see out the year with another UK tour starting in Bristol on 23rd November and continuing to Birmingham, Nottingham, etc. until Cambridge on 1st December. There are likely to be more shows announced.

Tickets on sale now, priced from around £14 and sure to sell through quickly, even this far in advance.