The Great Leslie are not afraid to involve themselves in a bit of fun. Yet, there is far more meaning beneath the mirth than one would expect.
The Great Leslie- ‘The End And The Beginning’
The Great Leslie is a band I have been ardently following since previously writing a review of their singles ‘Can’t Touch’ and ‘Get In’. With the eve of their debut EP release fast approaching, I’ve had the honour of checking out the fruits of their labour.
Needless to say, The Great Leslie have accomplished all I expected of them and more. Filled with thrilling melodies, ‘The End and The Beginning’ is satisfying in both a sonic and narrative manner. By following the dissolution of a relationship, The Great Leslie injects a large volume of catharsis into their lyricism while truly unleashing within their instrumentals. One of my personal favourites, ‘Go Our Way’, explores this dynamic perfectly. Combining delicately delivered vocal performances across the verses with a Bloc Party-esque guitar riff, the chorus kicks into high gear with Ollie’s explosive declaration of the track’s title. Punctuated with angelic gang vocals, the chorus is one that earnestly expresses a yearning for the past while acknowledging that emotional distance is something that can still develop even if you “feel the same”.
Loaded with alt-rock bops, the entire track list explores these themes of loss and heartbreak with a knowing smile and a raging desire to rock out. ‘Loving and Leaving’ is another EP highlight that makes effective use of each member’s mastery of their unique instrumental tones. The dominant rhythm section is of particular merit- with Alfie and Ryan’s interlocking grooves playfully grounding the track and allowing lead guitarist Freddie to add his own punctuating riffs to the mix. Despite the heavy lyrical focus, there is a unity in the lads’ sound that offers one bright hope; whatever happens, they’ll keep creating dynamic and fun-filled songs that offer the audience a release.
It’s astounding how focused and freeing the project sounds. Taking the best of a multitude of genres, each portion is perfectly honed. Each element of their sound has been sharpened to a point, yet the singles clearly aren’t any less developed than the final product. On a five-track EP of such high quality, it is clear every track could have functioned as a single in and of themselves: each micro cosmically exploring and probing similar ground. In the context of the project, their selection of singles has worked impeccably- building towards the greater themes of ‘The End and The Beginning’ by teasing elements that are then expounded upon throughout the tracklist.
In essence, the project is everything I hoped it would be and more. These truly are tracks that do it all from inspiring self-reflection to instilling an individual with a non-negotiable need to dance. With ‘Get In’ peaking at number 2 in the iTunes alternative charts and ‘Can’t Touch’ having made it onto the Spotify editorial playlist ‘All New Rock’, it’s been wonderful to see the band receive the praise they wholeheartedly deserve. With gigs supporting the release on the horizon, I’ll be making sure to get myself down to The Sebright Arms (London) on the 13th of May to check out their live performance with my own eyes. If their astounding display supporting Indie legends Franz Ferdinand is anything to go by, I’m in for a most memorable experience.
Fuelled by the enlivening spirit of their namesake, these gallant gents have a bright future ahead. For now, however, they should sit back and congratulate themselves on such a stunning release.
Discover more from The Great Leslie
Discover more on RCM
- The Great Leslie Set their Sights on Stardom With New Singles
- Free Music Marketing Training For Independent Artists
- Independent Artist? Learn The Secrets of Social Media Success
- Music Marketing vs Music Promotion Avoid These Three Mistakes
Words Angus Nisbet
