leave land for water - debut ep
a few years ago 'the boy lucas' released electro noises on the ultra cool label 'output'. lots of mentions in all the right places, then just as the whole electro thing become the big thing lucas drops off the planet only to reappear alongside a bunch of mates as 'leave land for water' with proper songs, real instruments and generally avoiding all things zeitgeist.
the 5 songs (including a remix) basically subscribe to the melody strong post rock groove, where quietly intense melodramatic ambience often sits amongst great swathes of FEEDBACK with startling results.
starting off with 'the cinders spread', a 5 and half minute epic, where the opening noises give way to gorgeous guitar pickings lulling the listener into a false sense of security, as 20 seconds later the layers of guitar noise are added just to make sure you are paying attention, once your interest has been pricked, the layers are drawn back, and the song settles down into a pleasant laid back song with a mix-n-match shoegazing styled glory of quiet and noise, in fact there are times when i begin to drift off and recall the majestic swervedriver during this track, thus making this a really great start to the ep. 'OLAD', AGAIN, STARTS OFF ALL QUIET AND LOVELY, WITH DUAL LAYERED VOCALS, PLUCKED ACOUSTIC GUITARS, WHILE A TENSE ATMOSPHERE BUILDS UP, THE AMBIENCE IS EXPANDED BY ECHO, A RUMBLING BASS LINE, AND SOME DEFTLY SUBTLE ELECTRONICS. THE SPOOKY PIANO SECTION AT 3 MINUTES RAISES THE CHILL FACTOR BEFORE POWERED UP DRUMS BEGIN TO DRIVE THE TRACK HOME TO ITS CONCLUSION. 'DEAD MUSEUM' HAS MORE OF THE VAST electronically enhanced OPEN SPACE AMBIENCE AND A GREAT WAY WITH MELODY, INTERESTINGLY, TOM'S (BASS) MUM ADDS SOME LOVELY CELLO TO THE SONG PRIOR TO THE BAND GIVING IN TO THEIR DESIRES TO POST-ROCK OUT, MAKING THE 6.5 MINUTES RUSH BY with ease. AS ALWAYS THROUGHOUT THE EP, LUCAS'S VOCALS ARE GENTLE AND SOFT BUT MANAGE TO HOLD THE LISTENERS FOCUS, THEN WHEN DOUBLED UP WITH TIM (KEYBOARDS) ALL SEEMS TO CLICK INTO PLACE, SOMETHING THAT BAND ARE OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF, as the effect becomes a welcome sonic trademark by the end of the record.
finally there is 'bonnie banks', and a remix of 'dead museum' both of which continue in the same way as before, but adding a slight extra level of baggy-esque bass line to the remix just in case any progressive dj's want to add some leftfield guitar music to their regulation playlists. releasing the ep as skies become grey and full of rain, as students rediscover their hovels and the mood becomes more introverted , is excellent timing as this release could prove to be the perfect soundtrack for such times.