This Welsh band’s debut album featured a couple of songs that were quite special and hinted at a band capable of filling the gap left by classic American mid-west rockers like the Eagles. The recent album releases (after an absence of 28 years) from the Eagles and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss suggests that there is a huge untapped demand for this genre of music. It’s in this music territory that The Storys have chosen to park their talents. So, the big question is can this band meet and beat the best?

TOWN BEYOND TREES almost passed me by on first listen, but, as is sometimes the case, on the second and subsequent plays its quality hit me, and the answer to my question became clear. The Storys have produced an album that is capable of beating the Yanks at their own special game, and a well publicised Stateside release could see it fly… But there’s something else at play here – the ability of four vocalists and song writers to actually work in total harmony to produce such successful results. Opening mid-paced track ‘Long Hard Road’ quickly illustrates this unity of purpose. Steve Balsamo’s vocal is country rock perfection and full of feeling, while the band’s vocal harmonies are also beyond reproach. It’s a classic song with superb melody, beautifully judged instrumental arrangement and simple but powerful lyrics. Based on this song alone, the band should figure in this year’s USA Country Awards… Next is the beautiful, darker, slower paced ‘You Couldn’t Make It Up.’ The band describes the song as a ‘grown-up pop song’ but it’s a little more than that with its intelligent lyrical message, and emotionally believable delivery. There are love songs aplenty here including the upbeat ‘Evangalina, the haunting and tantalising ‘Alone’, and the bittersweet, beautiful ‘Nobody Loves You.’ Then there’s the subject of failed ambition covered brilliantly by ‘It’s All We Really Need’ and dreadful longing in ‘Town Beyond The Trees, that describes the feeling s of man on death row reflected in a letter to his unborn son. This song is masterful in its capture of a desperate, contemplative atmosphere - a killer track if ever there was one. This wonderful album closes on the deeply moving love song ‘Feeling Something’ and meandering, string-soaked ‘Trouble Deep’ – one of several album highlights and featuring haunting, ethereal backing vocals from Rosalie Deighton, in addition to the most glorious instrumental conclusion.

I’ve now listened to this album many times and am of the firm opinion that it is capable of becoming a very major seller over the pond. There’s also no doubt in my mind that it does indeed meet and beat the yanks at their own game – a remarkable musical achievement.

The album is released in March 2008.

4.5/5