Excelsior rework (out today) + woodland playlist for your next hike
New music — let us know what you think!
The closing track on our latest album #DigTheMountain is our ode to #FraxinusExcelsior, aka the european #Ash. Majestic as they are, these trees are being decimated by #Dieback. It is radically altering landscapes forever, threatening ecosystems.
Because we care deeply about raising awareness of the plight of the species, we’ve included the song in almost all our performances since reuniting. We released a version of it in December featuring audio from Cor Meibion Gwalia and video from very kind contributors who filmed ash trees in their local parks & forests.
Now, we’ve got another new version: a reimagining from the ground up, by Edward Nesbit & Thomas Hodgson. Brian has re-tracked the vocals, over the magnificent piano playing of Sydney Wang, whom Ed & Tom visited in Los Angeles earlier this year:
“When we first heard Excelsior, we were struck by its expressive beauty and lyricism, and immediately started to think of ideas for a new arrangement. Our version, with a new accompaniment inspired by romantic piano writing, attempts to capture the beauty of nature, as well as sorrow at its loss.”
We are delighted to be able to be releasing this absolutely stunning new arrangement, today to coincide with the #Ramsons (#wildgarlic, which feature in the song lyrics) being in full bloom here in the woodlands of the #Gower peninsula (where most of Dig the Mountain! was tracked, and where we’ll be headlining the sold out Love Trails Festival this summer).
We hope you enjoy this new mix, as your soundtrack to early Summer, despite the serious message!
We’ve also teamed up with The Woodland Trust to launch our tree-themed “Woodland Playlist” of nature-themed songs, and music from many artists from whom we have seen genuine concern for nature & conservation. Play it via https://linktr.ee/stornowayplaylists and let us know what you think of it — especially if you take it out for your next woodland wander!
Next up:
5/18 WOOD Festival
5/31 Wychwood Festival
6/28 Glastonbury Festival
7/12 Love Trails Festival
7/13 ALSO Festival
7/26 Deer Shed Festival
8/25 Greenbelt Festival