array(11) { ["results"]=> int(3) ["pages"]=> float(0) ["page"]=> float(0) ["previous"]=> NULL ["next"]=> NULL ["from"]=> int(0) ["to"]=> int(19) ["offset"]=> int(20) ["baseurl"]=> string(50) "http://www.theleaflabel.com/en/blog/archive/2009/2" ["urlpath"]=> string(62) "http://www.theleaflabel.com/en/blog/archive/2009/2/published/0" ["links"]=> array(0) { } } The Leaf Label: BLOG ARCHIVE FOR FEBRUARY 2009
BLOG ARCHIVE FOR FEBRUARY 2009
volcano! UK tour dates added
Published 12 February 2009 by TM


We've just added three UK dates for volcano! to the live section. Full European tour will be announced next week, but we couldn't wait to tell you about these: for two of the UK shows, in Manchester and London, volcano! will be appearing with Wildbirds & Peacedrums. Yep, we're not going to miss those.

As the eloquent Mr Inglis from The Luminaire told me the other day:
"WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMS + VOLCANO! F**k man. What about that eh? Is that not the bill of the year?"

In other news, the band will be in the studio this weekend to record brand new material for a single that we plan to release (digitally) around the upcoming tour. There are also plans for a video that should be a match for the, um, controversial clip for 'Africa Just Wants To Have Fun'.

Office playlist Feb 09
Published 17 February 2009 by BWL

In our newsletter we end with a playlist of what we've been listening to in the Leaf office since the last mail out, but now we have a blog, so where better to put it than here! Here it is:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)
Bill Evans - Symbiosis (MPS)
various artists - Sprigs Of Time: 78s From The EMI Archive (Honest Jons)
Teeth Mountain - s/t (Shdwply)
Vladislav Delay - Anima (Huume)
Mi Ami - Watersports (Quarterstick)
Miles Davis - The Complete On The Corner Sessions (Columbia)
Patty Waters - The Complete ESP Disk Recordings (ESP Disk)
Thelonious Monk - Solo Monk (CBS)
Mountains - Choral (Thrill Jockey)
various artists - Delta Dandies: Dance Bands In Nigeria 1936-1941 (Savannahphone)
Chic - I Want Your Love (Atlantic)
Bill Wells Trio - Also In White (Geographic)
Neil Young - Decade (Reprise)
Davy Graham - Folk, Blues & Beyond (Decca)

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Songs From A Lost Piano
Published 28 February 2009 by TM


We went to see the ever entertaining and newly hirsute Matthew Bourne premiere a new conceptual work, Songs From A Lost Piano, in Leeds last night. Using six pianos salvaged from all over the north of England, and collaborating with vocalists Seaming To and Andrew Plummer, Matt teased new life out of these forgotten and abandoned instruments in various states of disrepair.

What was most surprising was the choice of material - alongside a handful of originals and improvised pieces were versions of 20th century "classics" by, among others, Barry Manilow, Elton John, and a frankly unrecognisable Billy Joel. While these were performed with a subversive and playful sense of humour, they were by no means smirking pisstakes. In fact they matched the junkshop mood of the event perfectly.

To be honest, I found some of the vocalists' self-conscious stylings a bit tiring, to the point where they got in the way of the pianos themselves, but after the interval they gave more natural performances that suited the music far better. Both singers were much more bearable when they didn't seem to be trying too hard.

It was unclear to what extent the pianos had been restored, modified or even tuned for the performance, but the effect was mesmerising. Matt's obvious love for the machines and the music they had played over decades was infectious, and he proved himself to be the missing link between Thelonious Monk and Les Dawson, a comparison I suspect he would approve of!

The event coincided with the launch party for fuseleeds09, a festival that we're quite closely involved with this year. Watch out for the full anouncement on Monday!