Leaves - London Barfly @ Monarch - 20/11/01
4/5
By: Toby L
The precariously-placed bongo-drums onstage mark a scary fate for the Icelandic act before they've even begun playing: an alternative, new-age hippy band? God help us, no.
And, luckily, Leaves are anything but such a description. Phew.
The evening begins with the band in question standing nervously towards the front of the venue. Smoking last minute cigarettes and observing the swelling crowd - mainly consisting of informed industry figures - they suddenly decide to play for us, and climb on to the stage. Adopting live position and screeching out the opening notes, it becomes apparent that this is going to be something quite different.
The soaring and fiddly guitar, solid acoustic strumming in parts and the eerie yet grandiose opening suggests a group that are able to merge the touching songwriting skills of The Verve with the - dare it be said - edge and depth of Sigur Ros (a band native to the Leaves' homeland). There's an achingly beautiful and sincerely spirited twist to the act's diversity, though: as will be proven on their debut release, the 'Breathe EP' (out early next year), the integration of contemporary rock styles and the daring avant-garde has never been so alluring.
Vocalist Arnar is even an interesting and inspired choice for a frontman; he eyes the crowd from left to right with a hypnotic glare as he sings without any hint of strain, before turning his back abruptly to bash out some thundering roars on the six-string. Similarly, strong backing from Addi on keyboards, Bjarni on drums, another Arnar on both accordion and guitar, plus Hallar on bass, means that the texture and composure of the overall sound is nothing less than rich and vivid.
Then, for a second, the reality and truth comes flooding back: this band are playing their third gig in the world ever, following their debut just two months ago at a converted art gallery in Reykjavik. And - if this isn't enough alone for tonight to be a triumph - all members are star players in a third division Iceland football team. No, we're not lying...
Make sure you catch them at a venue soon, because the positive feedback for this group is mounting higher than the levels on their amps - and Leaves, suitable to what occurs to the objects in their name, may just be able to blow you away.
Artists in this article: Leaves
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