Album Review: Luke Leighfield - New Season

already-heardmusic:

24-year old singer-songwriter Luke Leighfield’s latest album, ‘New Season’ proves to a highly compelling record that simply takes you a heavenly musical journey. 

Anyone who is familiar with Leighfield’s work will know he is entirely independent; he releases material through his own label, Got Got Need Records and has financed this album through donations by fans.

For new listeners, Luke’s style is a mix of piano-led pop-rock, which is similar to Jack’s Mannequin and Relient K, to the sombre, mellow sounds that the likes of Ben Folds produces. Whilst Leighfield’s previous releases easily fit into these comparisons, ‘New Season’ takes a more dynamic, polished approach with the final result being grander, more concentrated and more mature. 

From the opening piano keys of ‘Slow Down,’ you’re anticipating something exceptional, and with it’s aching tone that brilliantly builds to an over-powering conclusion, it thankfully delivers. With crashing drums and choir-like vocals bringing the track home, it’s clear to stay ‘New Season’ starts on the highest of highs.

Read More

Really nice review of New Season. Thanks!

New Season in depth | Part 4: Whispering

Every Monday (this one is late!) for the next seven weeks I’m going to be posting an in-depth blog about a song from New Season. Here’s the fourth one.

Part 4: Whispering

In spring 2010 I was invited to go on a songwriting retreat for a couple of days by BBC 6 DJ, Tom Robinson. Around ten of us went to a cottage in Kent to just be quiet and write songs for a couple of days, and share them with each other.

In that day and a half I managed to write more songs than I’d written in the previous year (!) and ’Whispering’ was one of them. The song came about from the quietness and peace of the surroundings, and it’s about taking time to be quiet, still and present. There’s not really a huge amount to say about it - it’s all in the lyrics!

When it came to recording the song, it’s pretty exposed lyrically and musically and I wanted to keep that bare intimacy, but we did some cool stuff with the ending to make it a little more exciting. The big sound that comes in at the middle eight, aside from the drums, is a Rhodes piano going through numerous pedals, delays and guitar cabs. Pete geeked out and managed to create an insane sound that I’m sure we’d never be able to replicate again.

The vocal sound at the ending was made by layering loads of parts with me singing super quietly, and the echo part is a choir of my friends that we recorded at a church in Southampton. 

——————————————————————————

Listen to / buy ‘New Season’ at lukeleighfield.com/newseason.

Watch ‘Seasons’, the feature-length documentary about the making of the album, at lukeleighfield.com/seasons.

Read ‘New Season in depth’ part 1 / part 2 / part 3.