the leitmotif
Reviewed by: Layla Clarke
Published: 20 April 2011
digital ep: one day, one night
Together less than a year, The Leitmotif has certainly made its mark on the Adelaide music scene. This self-described “post punk band” already has a number of gigs under its belt, least of all supporting the likes of The Holidays, Young Heretics, and The Cairos. Now they’ve released their first EP.
Formed late in 2010, it’s still early days for this trio. However, listening to the CD, you wouldn’t know they hadn’t been together long. Every track is tight and well recorded.
On a first listen to the EP, the rock ‘n’ roll style of the tracks is immediately clear. Yet, at the same time you get the feeling that there’s something more to these songs. The band describes their music as “danceable indie-rock” and this is perhaps the best summary of what these guys do. The songs have the pop sensibilities and danceable melodies of indie music, but still keep that strong rock ‘n’ roll edge.
Kicking off the EP is ‘A Girl In Love’, a track that really highlights this mesh of indie and rock ’n’ roll. Complete with distorted vocals, the song quickly takes on a distinct grunge feel. Still, the catchy melodies complement the rock guitars and drums, adding that more indie and pop feel.
Next up is ‘The Night’. Here, you immediately notice the band’s use of synthesisers, which beautifully sets the scene for the rest of the song. Lyrically a bit of a romantic track, musically it does have a more distinct darker edge than the previous song. Still, the music does include a healthy dose of rock riffs and drum beats.
Track three on the EP is ‘Onscreen Romance’. The intro to this track isn’t amazing – it seems a little awkwardly timed, almost like it doesn’t quite fit. However, it’s a short intro and the song quickly launches into a great rhythm. The drums beats that provide this rhythm are interwoven with an equally good melody and some perfectly timed backing vocals, adding another dimension to the track.
The fourth and final track is ‘Daylight Realisations’. This is certainly the standout track on the EP and much slower than the others. The synthesiser is immediately obvious, again used to give a darker atmosphere to the music, perfectly suiting the lyrics of the song. Lyrically, The Smiths influence on the band here is clear, as singer James describes a New Years Eve gone wrong.
The best thing about this band, though, is their ability to effortlessly combine genres – from all out rock ‘n’ roll to indie to dance and everything in between. The genres are mixed so effortlessly that the trio can switch to and from a range of genres in just one song.
Overall, The Leitmotif has released a quality EP. With its hooks and melodies, this EP makes for some great listening and certainly gives the impression that The Leitmotif would be a fantastic band live.
*The EP is available for free downloading at Bandcamp >>
