LEIF レコード& CD

Review: It is labels like UntilMyHeartStops that proudly do deep house justice. The fourth EP to come from the UK imprint, and third this year, is a various artist sampler featuring label inaugurator Joey Anderson, who is joined by the best of British; October, Lief and the impressive Arnaldo. The latter opens the EP with something sparse, dubby and lonely in "People In The Sand", while A Side companion Anderson delivers an effervescent and cosmic "One World". October toughens up the EP with his bullish and phase filtered "Decompression Chamber", while the combined classicalism, ambience and slow drums of Lief's "Until Dawn" is reminiscent to Sven Weisemann's music as Joeum.

Review: After a few hot releases on labels such like floppy funk, Moonharbour rec, Logistic, Tom Ellis and Leif are back in action here with this four track EP titled 'Refresh/Repeat EP', on Frankie, where we are definitely hooked up by their so recognizable style and where they show us their way to mix great crunchy sounds, cut weird voices, jazzy rhythms, loud basses and all combined with an impressive sense of groove. strike!

Review: The Trimsound imprint has moved it's headquarters (well actually their distribution) to the UK bringing their unique minimal tech sound to the same people responsible for the Leftroom releases. Tom Ellis once again provides four chunky minimal shakers getting early support from the Mos Ferry crew and the glitch master Ark.

Review: Trimsound return from a winter hibernation with a fresh release for you this spring with 'The Whole Wired World EP'. This time our special guest is Canadian whizz kid Frivolous (~Scape / Background / Karloff / Epsilonlab) providing us with a quality blend of quirky electro-tinged micro-house with a brilliant dancefloor vibe. Next up Leif's infectious warm dubbytech-house track brings things a little bit deeper, in line with his latest release on Fear of Flying records. On the flipside, Tom Ellis' jacked-up funk sound absolutely rocks it. Tom is on fire at the moment with releases lined up on Minibar, Musique Risquee and Hartchef amongst others. Finally, Joe Ellis tops off this awesome EP with a deep jazzy chord-driven groover akin to his productions on new net label Paperscissorstone.

Review: Welsh production obsessive Leif has remained pretty prolific throughout his low-key but high praise career. Last year he put out two full-lengths on London's Whities, firstly a live session Music For Screen Tests, and in 2019 his album Loom Dream. Here he lands on AD 93 with another meticulously well-crafted record which he says was formed during "an unconscious reconnection with music long since forgotten; an instinctive recall for melodies played out on guitar, low whistle and voice." It is typically deft, detailed, lush and elegant in the way it unfolds, and immediately draws you into its quiet but emotive artistry and keeps you there for the duration.

Review: Given his long-running friendship with key members of Bristol's vibrant - and distinctive - techno community, it's something of a surprise to find that this marks Leif Knowles' first appearance of Peverelist's Livity Sound imprint. Happily, we can confirm that it was worth the wait. The genius of the EP lies in the unique combination of the long-serving producer's inventive, African-influenced rhythms and deep, rich and life-affirming musical flourishes. Both A-side "Igam-Ogam" and B-side opener "First Image" boast intricately programmed (and impressively layered) drums, as well as either drowsy deep house chords or ear-catching melodic loops. Then there's closing cut "Seeker", which sounds like his take on late 1970s Tangerine Dream.

Review: Fresh from delving into his ambient side on the pastorally-enhanced "Loom Dream" album for Whities, Leif revives his self-manned Tio Series with another double-shot of delicate but impactful cuts outside the conventional slipstream of modern techno. The rhythms fall crooked, the synths trickle, bubble and cascade around the groove and the atmosphere remains humid and heady, especially on ear-snagging B-side "Rumex". "Montpelier" sports more explicit dubby flourishes and a spread of sonic flora and fauna in the middle distance that truly brings the track to life.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Five years on from the label's first 12", Whities has finally decided to offer up an album. It comes from Leif, an artist whose output has consistently been getting deeper and more downtempo the longer his career has progressed. "Loom Dream" is a fine set, with the Freerotation regular effortlessly mixing and matching gentle off-kilter rhythms, drowsy ambient chords, claustrophobic aural textures, bubbly melodies and fluid, effervescent electronics. There's much to admire across the six tracks with highlights including the humid, glassy-eyed tropical bliss of "Myrtus", the hypnotizing, Steve Reich style marimba minimalism of "Rosa" and the slow techno creep of "Borago".

Review: Five years on from the label's first 12", Whities has finally decided to offer up an album. It comes from Leif, an artist whose output has consistently been getting deeper and more downtempo the longer his career has progressed. "Loom Dream" is a fine set, with the Freerotation regular effortlessly mixing and matching gentle off-kilter rhythms, drowsy ambient chords, claustrophobic aural textures, bubbly melodies and fluid, effervescent electronics. There's much to admire across the six tracks with highlights including the humid, glassy-eyed tropical bliss of "Myrtus", the hypnotizing, Steve Reich style marimba minimalism of "Rosa" and the slow techno creep of "Borago".

Review: After the widespread acclaim for "Shoulders Back" and "July V", Leif fires up his 10" TIO Series with another pair of dazzling, future-minded cuts for the more inquisitive dancefloor. Increasingly he's been moving away from house and techno conventions towards intriguing broken beat variations, and that's apparent in abundance on this new release. "Bluebird" rides on a set of tough but dynamic drum ripples, but the stand-out element is the gorgeous twinkling arpeggio that pirouettes over the top of the beat. "Number 13" meanwhile takes a moodier, dubbier approach without losing that deft programming, harmonic warmth and crafty rhythmic interplay that has become Leif's calling card in recent times.

Review: Starting a solo venture alongside his work running the UntilMyHeartStops label, Leif kicks off the new 10" Tio Series with two stunning tracks that once again demonstrate his unstoppable progression in the field of broken beats. "July V" is a true head-spinner, using dazzling arpeggios and fractious drums to create a wondrous crystalline slice of leftfield rhythm science. "Shoulders Back" on the flip is a completely different concern, but no less astounding in its use of cyclical, percussive melodies to create a hypnotic, and truly distinctive workout. At a time when more and more producers are moving away from traditional 4/4 rhythms, Leif's particular style is as natural and inspiring as it gets.

Review: On the back of an acclaimed LP on his own UMHS label, Freerotation resident Leif takes his woozy grooves and lush atmospherics for a trackier spin on Galdoors. "Macro Beat's" broken latin groove propels the A1 through layers of bubbling dub synths and twinkling atmospherics. "Moment Beat" shares the first track's club focus, but this time chimes unfurl over a low-slung groove that leaves things perfectly poised for a change in direction. On the B, "Tumbler"picks up the pace once more with highs and arpeggios that pulse and slide around each other restlessly, before "Untitled" wraps up with a beatless and beautiful flourish.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: A fine 2015 for UntilMyHeartStops so far has seen the label usher in superb 12" releases from Zach Lubin, Arnaldo, and Duckett with the latter's pair of records a particular highlight. Label co-founder Leif is next up with Taraxacum, his second album and UMHS's debut long-player and it may be their finest work to date. Building on Dinas Oleu, his well-received 2013 debut album for Fear of Flying, the nine tracks on Taraxacum show Leif channelling all-new levels of immersion in his productions right now. Very much an album you sink into, there are still tracks on Taraxacum that will work on the dancefloor when you require something a bit hypnotic; we'd love to see a small club reacting to the startling "An Elephant Madness" for example. Great work Leif!

Review: With the original pressing of the 2013 release long gone but still in great demand, Ornate is thrilled to revisit Leif's Each Day Made New EP and give it a lavish new repress on violet coloured vinyl. When the record originally dropped it received support from artists as well-respected as Larry Heard, Soul Capsule, Jane Fitz and Rhythm Plate, and continues to be spun regularly to this day.

Since then Leif has been on an incredibly productive run, releasing his debut album Dinas Oleu on Fear Of Flying as well as singles on Sudden Drop and Idle Hands. UntilMyHeartStops, the label he runs with Joe Ellis, has continued to build in notoriety with celebrated releases from Steevio, Arnaldo and Duckett, while Leif himself is preparing to release his much-anticipated second LP through the imprint soon.

It's the perfect time to be reminded of a true gem from the London-based artist's back catalogue, from the warm, ear-snagging chords of "Circumstance 4" to the low slung downtempo funk of the title track, and give a few more eager heads the chance to grab a copy.

Review: Having wowed hearts and minds with his Dinas Oleu LP for Fear Of Flying, Leif has been quietly issuing out singles for sister label Sudden Drop, but now this new release finds him branching out to pastures new for Bristolian imprint Idle Hands. With the new territory comes a new slant towards broken beat productions, as "Life Through Analogies" layers up all manner of disorientating found sounds around a shaking beat. Leif's knack for serene melodies is still intact though, as is evident on the sumptuous "My Heart Stopped Beating", while "Salix" represents the moodiest of all the tracks. It's a marvelous fresh move for an ever-developing artist, and it sounds right at home on Idle Hands.

Review: Continuing a strong run of exploration following his album for Fear Of Flying last year, Leif is once again revealing new shades to his sound on this latest missive for Sudden Drop. The rhythm section and dubby hits of "Solstice" would fit snugly alongside the output on Leif's Until My Heart Stops imprint, while the chords come straight from the ethereal channel he has always tapped up on his productions. "With Your Sincere Heart" takes a more floaty direction into drifting pads and gossamer-light beats, which is an approach continued on "Once There Was Nothing" albeit with a fuller sound spectrum of dreamy tones. "Sintra" finishes the EP off with a delicate and twirling line in chimes and notes offset by a ranging bassline and a subtle but forthright drum set.

Review: Leif consolidates years of EP releases for Ornate, Boe, Morris Audio, Fina with a considered debut album Dinas Oleu for the Fear Of Flying label. It makes sense for the Freerotation resident to choose FOF given the strong association he's built up with the label since it first emerged some seven years ago. From the hazy ambience of the opening vignette "Through Noise Pt 1" Leif works his way through a succession of house and techno moods all rich in the sort of detail and melodic warmth that will be familiar to anyone that's indulged in his 12" output. Keep an ear out for the title cut too which features the harp playing talents of poppa Knowles.

Review: Leif consolidates years of EP releases for Ornate, Boe, Morris Audio, Fina with a considered debut album Dinas Oleu for the Fear Of Flying label. It makes sense for the Freerotation resident to choose FOF given the strong association he's built up with the label since it first emerged some seven years ago. From the hazy ambience of the opening vignette "Through Noise Pt 1" Leif works his way through a succession of house and techno moods all rich in the sort of detail and melodic warmth that will be familiar to anyone that's indulged in his 12" output. Keep an ear out for the title cut too which features the harp playing talents of poppa Knowles.

Review: Hot on the heels of Ornate Music's last release featuring the bumping house business of Digs, the imprint set their sights on Welsh producer Leif, who has been turning heads with his masterful deep house for labels like Fear Of Flying and Fina since 2003. Kicking off with "Circumstance 4", whose smooth organ refrain drifts over a lightly rolling groove, the vibe switches up with "Every Cloud", whose gentle jazz-inspired piano and abstract, dubbed out soundscape is strongly reminiscent of Floating Points more freeform productions. However, it's "Each Day Made New" that provides the EP's most surprising moment, an Andres style hip-hop track with a cut-up, sunshine drenched quality calling Recloose to mind.

Review: The "Customer Services EP", by Leif, embraces a variety of styles. The title track is pure chunky tech-funk while "Kindling" provides us with some dry melodic crispy micro-house. Pheek throws in a beautiful extra phat techy remix of "Customer Services" while "Mining For Opal" explores Leif's deep dubby style.

Review: Time for a little bit of house action, with Leif providing the 4/4 beats. "Commonplace" has solid house beats, snippets of vocals and a general summery feel that starts the track off before dropping mid-way and injecting a nice bit of dirt with a rolling b-line. Simple and effective.

Review: Having served for eight years as one of the most dependable outlets for deep, thought provoking house in the UK, Boe Recordings recently announced its plans to shut up shop, and it does so in style. Calling on regular artists as well as fresh talent, it's a perfect swansong that demonstrates just how much quality is to be found in the Boe back catalogue. Leif's "That Ice Cream Tune" is a hypnagogic slice of broken beat, while label boss Ben Boe gets into a dreamy 2-step state of mind. That's just the tip of the iceberg on this flawless double-pack from a label that will be sorely missed.

Review: Extremely funky and very deep minimal tech with live recorded bass and percussion. The result is a sound that is much too organic to be just another tool.

Review: Lovebirds and Leif share the honours on this split twelve for the Liebe Detail imprint, with the former winning in the contest for most aptly titled track. It's pretty hard to refer to "The Beast" in anything other than monstrous terms with Lovebirds aka Seb Doring building an epic array of snaking modulated chords over gloriously loud drums. Coincidentally it also packs quite the Balearic punch at 33rpm as we mistakenly discovered upon first listen. On the flip Leif serves up "Almost Invincible" which combines neat, dusty swinging 2 step rhythms with delightfully melodic keys and sweetly soulful vocal layers for a completely different but equally worthy production.