[Album Review] Luke Leighfield- New Season (2012)

Luke Leighfield- New Season

New Season is, quite incredibly 24 year old Luke’s fourth studio album. Add that to over 650 live shows in varying continents as well as a greatest hits album and, well let’s just say if you’re over 24; you’ve probably underachieved by comparison. If you’re under 24, you’ve got a lot of work to do.

In reality this musician’s body of work and experience is unbelievable and to either concentrate on these or to only have the merest dalliance with them would be to threaten indifference to either the music or the work that has gone into it so please, let us begin…

~ This too shall pass ~

The album begins mournfully with Slow Down, introduced by a tao like hum and joined by languid piano and ernest, aching vocals which rather than set the tone for the album merely hint at what is to come.

The drumming towards the end of the opener is as angst ridden as Leighfield’s carefully chosen words, speaking of heartache and pain. The way it glides off at the end and leads into a complete contrast with the album’s title track is an early allusion to the strengths of this album.

Progressive guitars and upbeat in tempo and delivery in New Season, with a switch in styles akin to Ben Folds on his best works. Ben Folds being a comparison I now realize has been made in the past, but while so many comparisons are dismissed with not quite being in Leighfield’s league you’ll have to excuse such heavy weight assimilation and understand they’re both necessary and absolutely warranted.

Listening to this album I had to take a bit of time in between each track because a lot goes on in the few minutes that he allows for each of his creations and in each of those is intrepid lyricism, vast soundscapes carefully crafted with keys, strings, brass, percussion, power and panache all taking their rightful places.

The momentum steps up whenever the pace threatens to drop for more than a couple of verses but if you like your songs to be powered through then the title track and Live For More are where your going to be happiest. However, to be dismissive of the more cerebral aspects of his music is like waiting until your tea is cold so you can drink it all at once, rather than opting for slow and meticulous intakes which is the perfect way to describe the more beautiful parts of this album.

Garde Te Foy embodies all aspects of the album in a glorious five and a half minutes that even after repeated listens seems to be over too soon. Light yet driving piano and lyrics that are almost difficult to listen to, the honesty that they display.

All this with the drawn out instrumental breaks and crescendo here and in album closer Do Not Settle make it feel like an immaculate coupling to complete what is an accomplished work but without even considering what’s gone in his past, there’s a lot in this fellow’s future.

~ Keep your faith brother, You are where you’re meant to be.

You are holding a sparkler but soon there will be a firework display.

You cannot see it but this is all mapped out ~

~ This too shall pass ~