Stornoway have picked up the 2010 XFM New Music Award for their debut album 'Beachcomber's Windowsill'.
Each year, the UK's alternative rock radio station award the prize to the debut album deemed the strongest of the year by a panel of industry judges. This year's panel featured Joy Divison bassist Peter Hook, who called the band "a better Mumford & Sons", as well as Charlatan's frontman Tim Burgess, who described their single 'Zorbing' as "quirky schoolboy sounds", .
Meanwhile fellow judge and respected music producer John Leckie (Radiohead, The Stone Roses) said, "The record really draws you in. It's well sung, played and produced. And it's fresh and enlivening and leaves you wanting to hear more. A good listen that refreshes. Its even got electric guitars on it. A quality product that’ll last for years."
Stornoway beat off competition from nine strong contenders on the short list, including Choice Music Prize nominees Two Door Cinema Club. The full list of nominees is as follows:
Delphic - Acolyte
Dinosaur Pile-Up - Growing Pains
Everything Everything - Man Alive
Fenech-Soler - Fenech-Soler
Hurts - Happiness
Kele - The Boxer
Marina And The Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Sound of Guns - What Came From Fire
Stornoway - Beachcomber's Windowsill
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
Last year's prize went to The XX, who went on to win the prestigious Mercury Music Prize for their debut album 'XX'.
