Nic Norton and Alice Morrell with The County Band - The Stone Tape
Nic Norton and Alice Morrell return with their first new album together since 2022's Killing Time
Prolific singer-songwriter, BBC political journalist, and also well-known regular 'face' on the Norwich music scene, Nic Norton has a new album out, his first collection of brand new material since 2022's 'Killing Time'. Once again teaming up with singer Alice Morrell, and backed by a collection of well-known local musicians, brought together as The Country Band, The Stone Tape is a collection of eleven brand new songs (plus a bonus track on the CD version).
Taking its title from a 1972 science-fiction/horror television play by Quatermass author Nigel Neale, that centred on paranormal investigations into memories 'recorded' into the stonework of a recently renovated Victorian mansion, Norton commits a selection of his own memories and characters into song and verse. Each one is inspired by personal memories, and of his own keenly recorded observations. Each one is coupled with his unique lyrical wryness and wit.
Alice Morrell takes lead vocals on several tracks, including the rueful 'Life Of A Man', and the slow and reflective 'Stone', and duets with Norton on 'Love Lives On', a song inspired by Philip Larkin's 'An Arundel Tomb'. There is a real beauty to her voice that perfectly complements Norton's more wistful singing style.
Stand out tracks include 'Custer', in which Norton and Morrell are joined by guest singer Sky Noble, and which is a country-influenced reflection of childhood memories. It tells of playing with toy cowboys and native Americans, and of innocently copying the stereotyped caricatures of the television shows and movies of the time. 'The Bus Stop Waltz' is a gentle, but beautiful, ode to Tyneside, filled with adolescent memories of growing up on the North East coast. 'Jennifer O' is almost pop-like, in a delightfully quirky way, that reminds of Donovan, or Ray Davies. And there is a sadness to 'Crazy Maisie' that delivers a back story filled with loss and loneliness.
Whilst Norton plays guitar and mandolin, a stellar line-up of well-known local names were also recruited to guest on the album. The list includes Mollie Narayan-Barrow on fiddle, Pedro Danger on bass guitar, Eva Wright on cello, Mikey Shaw on drums, and local legend Jose McGill on keyboards, mandolin, harmonica, guitar and banjo.
Stream if you must, download by all means, but I would urge you to buy your own personal copy of this album, when you next catch Nic Norton and Alice Morrell performing with The Country Band at a venue near you.
