Town Beyond The Trees
THE STORYS
South Wales band The Storys release their much anticipated
second album, ‘Town Beyond The Trees’, in March
2008. This follows the acclaimed 2006 eponymous debut and
some high profile live performances, including with Elton
John and Katie Melua.
“Their blending of complex chord structures with
simple melodies adorned with effortless, multi layered
harmonies is almost the perfect distillation of everything
appealing about West Coast Americana”.
The Telegraph
The Storys mix the country rock harmonies of The Eagles and
Crosby Stills Nash & Young with the acoustic side of
Led Zeppelin and the West Coast pop of The Byrds and The
Burrito Brothers, a sound that has already won many fans;
“There is much to revel in within the intricate vocal
harmonies of this Swansea sextet’s sound”.
Classic Rock
The Storys are Steve Balsamo – vocals/guitar; Andy
Collins – vocal/bass; Dai Smith –
vocals/guitar, Rob Thompson – vocals/guitar; Brian
Thomas – drums/percussion and Alan Thomas –
keys/mandolin/banjo; a big band with melodies and vocal
harmonies to match. Having 4 singers and songwriters gives
the band versatility, but there is certainly no conflict,
if anything the band have progressed as a unit in the song
writing, as Dai says: “If one or two bring a song
idea in, we all work on it and it becomes a six way
cooperative. This second album is more of a group
experience.”
“The Storys possess an ability to pen instantly
classic songs which ooze class”.
Music Week
The album ‘Town Beyond The Trees’, is issued on
the band’s own Hall label, named after the converted
cinema where their self produced debut was recorded. This
new album was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World
studio complex earlier in 2007, with renowned producer Jon
Kelly. Kelly’s impressive CV includes Kate Bush, The
Beautiful South, Paul McCartney, Chris Rea and The Damned.
The collapse of the record label Korova/Warners, who picked
up that debut, turned out to be a blessing, with the band
able to retain control of the recording and producer Jon
Kelly agreeing to stay on and finish the album. It was then
that the strings were added, giving the album its final
polish.
The band have come a long way in a short time, both finding
a cohesion in the studio (Dai: “The album only took 5
weeks to record, and it sounds fresher for it.”) and
having to pull together when playing stadiums with Elton
John.
In their own words - the stories behind some of the new
Storys songs
LONG HARD ROAD - A song about reassurance, what doesn't
kill you will make you stronger. Many of The Storys’
songs are based on kernels of personal truth. This is about
reaching out to someone in their hour of need.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP - A grown up pop song. It's about a
family unit breaking down; going through trial separation
and coming home one day to find someone else has moved in.
An example of an uplifting melody, with a dark
soul-searching lyric.
FEELING SOMETHING - when the first stages of love hit and
someone becomes a part of you, the question arises 'are
they feeling the same way'. As you fall deeper it is
important you know, as you commit your life to them. It is
a simple song about falling in love.
EVANGELINA - is a girl who's trying to be righteous and
true, who has not been in the past. Someone comes into her
life and turns her whole world around in seven days.
Supposedly the world was created in seven days, but hers
was destroyed.
IT'S ALL WE REALLY NEED - is about someone leaving home
with a dream of making something of themselves in the
world, but quickly finds that they've not even come close.
Sometimes it's easier not to come back than to come home
and admit defeat.
NOBODY LOVES YOU - is about an affair. It can be read as
both romantic and sinister, with the line 'nobody loves
you...like me', having obsessive overtones. Much in the
same way as 'Every Breath You Take' on the surface is a
love song, but hides a darker subtext.
TOWN BEYOND THE TREES – this was actually written
before the first album. It’s a live favourite, more
sprawling, very organic and based on a true story about a
guy on death row writing a letter to his unborn son.
It’s a very effecting story, some of the band have
recently become fathers and there’s no rule book when
you become a dad.
TROUBLE DEEP - is about somebody who is in a cycle of
making the same mistakes over and over again but always
running away from them rather than facing them. Rosalie
Deighton sings the harmony vocal. She toured with us last
year, and we fell in love with her voice. Steve did the
harmony originally, but as soon as Rosalie put her voice
down, the hairs collectively stood up at the back of our
necks. She adds something very special to the song...almost
ghost-like and ethereal.
HEAVEN HOLDS YOU NOW – sometimes we let people down,
but this song is about hope and holding onto your dreams
and realising we are all in the same boat. It also talks of
the loss of someone close and how we deal with it
ALONE – is about the search for true love and finding
that special person who makes you realise it’s a
lonely life without love.
Our other new stuff! -->
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