LEIF レコード& CD

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: 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: 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: 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.