Further Than My Fear is the third album from Bristol-based duo Firewoodisland.

By Graeme Smith

Though now based in Bristol, Stian Vedoy and Abi Eleri, the two halves of Firewoodisland, hail from Norway and Snowdonia, Wales respectively, and their home countries permeate into their brand of “mountain pop.”

Their new album Further Than My Fear revolves around the central theme of overcoming fear, a topic close to them both. The concept introduced by the album’s stirring opener Looking for Love and cemented over twelve further tracks, including a rousing, band-version reprise of the opener at the end of the collection.

In between we get moments of rich experimentation such as Who Knew, expansive introspection in the form of Untamed, and acoustic romance in As Long as I Go. Longing to Belong proves a powerful, brassy highlight before Hello Friend Again rounds off the album’s first half with a delicate piano ballad.

Let It Out is a twinkling, bombastic jewel at the heart of the album. It nicely sets up the record’s second half which manages to throw off the doubt with slow-burning numbers like Incomparable and Shuttle Astronaut that are interlaced with the drama of Hell and High Waters and the gentleness of title track Further Than My Fear and Love Left You Behind.

With their new album, Firewoodisland have created a coherent collection that sticks faithfully to a narrative and is chock full of emotion. Each track is sung beautifully by Stian and Abi’s combined voices and musically we get a rich tapestry that brings together the best of folk, pop and acoustic. If you’re looking to feel something today, look no further.

Further Than My Fear is out now and you can give it a listen below.