First review of my debut release "Childhood E.P."
Review by Peter J Brown aka toxic pete (www.toxicpete.co.uk)
The five tracks on 'Childhood' are taken from Leon Live's forthcoming album and the majority are plainly and simply Leon's diary entries, verbatim, put to music. Semi-acoustic is, I suppose, the best way to describe this remarkably honest work, totally home-grown and probably benefiting from its 'boy-next-door-records-at-home' open-ness, 'Childhood' is a very real and extremely heart-on-sleeve offering. By no means dour or cut-yer-throat morose, 'Childhood' is full of great songs performed with a sort of inner warmth and plenty of vitality - honest yes, meaningful yes, descriptive yes but, by no means overly 'bleak'!
Much of Leon Live's appeal is that he's letting you, the listener, into his 'private life' through words and music, his 'stories' are true, his 'ramblings' are factual, deep maybe but never too dismal; 'Childhood' tells you a great deal about this talented troubadour and his hands-on, kitchen-sink'n'all approach only adds weight to the trouble and torment emanating from the speakers. Not so much raw as real, 'Childhood', although sensitively handled, is hard-edged and tangibly honest; Leon Live is quite clearly driven by his music and the fact that his musical story-telling is based on real day-to-day feelings and actual events makes the words really come to life as the thoughts and observations unfold from within the empathetically 'scored' instrumental backdrop.
'Childhood' by Leon Live is by no means simply a solemn or mournful work; there's plenty to take in and loads to think about but it aint all dark and forlorn. In fact, much of Leon's music is quite up-beat and jaunty and therefore somewhat juxtaposed to the more harsh reality of the lyrics. Whatever, it certainly works!! 'Childhood' shows promise and potential; there's sufficient commerciality within these five songs to suggest that Leon Live could make a bit of a killing if he promotes the EP and manages to get decent exposure with radio 'jocks' and the like. Certainly, 'Childhood' would suggest that the album, when it's finished, should be well worth a looksee. 'Childhood' came as a bit of a surprise really; I read the press pack and thought that it might all be a bit self-indulgent and frankly a bit dull. No way!! 'Childhood' is a crackin' work and musical all-rounder Leon Live has impressed me and whet my appetite - pretty cool stuff, pretty impressive stuff, pretty bloody good!!
