Labels: B-Unique
Review by: Chris Gissing
It’s about time I started writing music reviews again. And I’ll tell you something. It’s albums like this which inspire me into writing again. Anyway, what on earth is going on in Iceland at moment. They’re just churning out amazing band after amazing band. I need not mention them here, suffice to say that if you’re into music, you’ll know who I’m talking about. I’ve done a fair old job of passing the word on about this album to my friends, and I’m yet to hear one of them say it is anything less than a fantastic debut. Let’s head through the tracks and learn a little more.
1) I Go Down – The opener reminded me a little of Coldplay on first listen, but this soon gave way to a brand new sound. It’s familar, without being derivative. The incredible double hook in the chorus is perhaps one of the albums strongest vocal achievements. Just when you think the falsetto sounding chorus cannot get any higher, lead singer Arnar Gudjonsson takes it up a notch. Awesome.
2) Catch – This was released as a single, and it’s easy to tell why. Perhaps one of the most accessible songs on the album, Catch has an air of mansun at their finest. The track hangs together on some really positive, almost funky guitar work. More exquisite hooks and melodies, and simple but decent lyrical work here.
3) Silence – This track is the background to the leaves website at www.leaves.tv. More coldplay-esqe vocals here, with some Verve thrown in to the melting pot. “I want you to know / Cos its there in your face” doesnt at first appear a particularly strong lyric, but the band somehow pull it off. Again, futher echos of Paul Draper can be heard resonating throughout this grand track. Finally, and surreally, towards the end we can pick up what sounds for all the world Neil Hannon doing a spoken backing track.
4) Breathe – Title track of the album, and one which develops the album’s sound yet further. This track was the original demo the band made for the record label in Iceland. The official site claims that Arnar the lead singer recorded the first Leaves demos on his home computer and whispered the vocals into the mix once his parents had gone to bed!
5) Crazy – A little bit more upbeat this, and again more single material. What begins to strike the listener by now, is the fact that the band sound so British. What this track lacks in lyrical genius it more than makes up for in catchiness, energy and excellent structure.
6) Epitaph – Perhaps the grandest of tracks on show, Epitaph is a creaping epic track. Which is quite apt, since the track might as well be written and performed by Mansun. In fact, it would slip right into Attack of the Grey Lantern without you even noticing. Since the Chester lot haven’t exactly been prolific recently, it’s a welcome sound, believe me. Stunning string sections, and Paul Draper emotion just makes an awesome highlight in the album. Nicely timed, at track 6 too. Just in case you were thinking of putting something else on.
7) Alone in the Sun – This is certainly more energetic than the last track, with more Mansun-like melodies. What strikes me about this album in general is the sheer quality, and perhaps almost subtle, melodies and hooklines. This is not an record you will easily tire of, thankfully.
8) Deep Blue – Like the title suggests, we return to a more mournful plaintive song. Perhaps one of the weaker efforts, this track perhaps doesn’t really strike the listener as being anything great yet would be a highlight on many other artists albums. Some rather good mansun reverb-effects on the guitars though.
9) Suppose – Heading towards the end of the LP now, and an accoustic effort. Gudjonsson sounds a little like Richard Ashcroft, or similar, as his belts out obviously heartfelt lyrics. It’s almost like this is a reprise of the themes in Track 4 (Breathe). The lyrics again talk about breathing, and hints of suffocation. Certainly emotional, there is no let up in the quality, even 9 tracks deep.
10) Race – Okay. We’re back to the energetic stuff again, and an almost (dare I say it) Oasis like beginning to this track. More lyrical references to breathing, and some excellent hooklines. Perhaps a little bit simple, this track sounds more like Verve than anything.
11) We – Last track. More falsetto plaintive vocals. Gudjonsson somehow finds another sound with his voice, and we are treated to a delicate final track. Well, delicate it seems initially, but quite marvellously the track meanders to a cresendo and a final flourish from the excellent guitarists in the band. A short interlude, and a final, scuzzy cod-Sigur Rós effort for the last few minutes bring a near-classic album to a close.