The Leaf Label has been the source of some of the most engrossing and creative music of recent times. Based in Leeds, and with an office in the US musical hotspot that is Brooklyn, Leaf first blossomed in late 1994, as an outlet for the music of Graham Sutton of influential post-rock band Bark Psychosis.
Since then, the label has been responsible for bringing some fascinating artists to the music world's attention, including Japanese house DJ-turned-ambient genius Susumu Yokota, American gypsy-folksters A Hawk & A Hacksaw and the kaleidoscope electronica of Dan Snaith's Caribou project.
There's a huge variety in the Leaf catalogue, and we reckon there's pretty much something for everyone. So let Urban Amplified be your guide to the music of Leaf...and why not get started by getting your mitts on a couple of tracks for no money whatsoever?
That's right, we've teamed up with Leaf to bring you a couple of free tracks for you to download, from the glitchy, Sigur Ros-esque Efterklang as well as haunting, Lancashire-based singer/songwriter Nancy Elizabeth. And if they're your cup of tea, scroll down the page and see what else this boundary-pushing label has to offer.
Danish group Efterklang recorded the fastest-selling debut album in The Leaf Label's illustrious history, with the release of 'Tripper' back in 2004.
Their stunning, emotionally-charged orchestral arrangements are augmented by feverish electronics, hushed boy-girl vocals and the soaring sounds of angelic choirs. Like the sound of that?
Well, The Leaf Label have given us a free download of the track 'Mirador' from most recent album 'Parades' to pass on to you!
MP3: Efterklang - 'Mirador'
(scroll down to the Leaf Label logo!)
BUY: Efterklang - 'Tripper'
Lancashire-based singer/songwriter Nancy Elizabeth produces down-to-earth songs which provide a welcome departure from the recent mobile phone-ad fuelled acoustic revival.
While her peers strip it all down to voice and guitar, Nancy provides superb backdrops of her own creation, featuring anything from an Indian harmonium, via some beautifully-plucked harp, through to an Appalachian dulcimer. Look 'em up.
All you really need to know is that she's fantastic, completely unpretentious and inexcusably talented. Check her out for yourself with this free download of her track 'Hey Son' from debut album 'Battle & Victory'.
MP3: Nancy Elizabeth - 'Hey Son'
(scroll down to the Leaf Label logo!)
And, as promised, here's some of the other fantastic Leaf titles you can download right here at Urban Amplified...
A Hawk & A Hacksaw are former Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes and violinist Heather Trost. Together they produce a blend of indie chamber pop and world music sounds; so far they've taken elements of old-style Americana, Latin rhythms and Balkan gypsy-folk. There's undoubtedly plenty more exploring to be done.
BUY: A Hawk & A Hacksaw - 'A Hawk & A Hacksaw'
BUY: A Hawk & A Hacksaw - 'Darkness At Noon'
BUY: A Hawk & A Hacksaw - 'The Way The Wind Blows'
Hailed by many as the master of modern ambient music, Japanese producer Susumu Yokota was best known as a house DJ before his conversion to soundscape creator extraordinaire. He joined Leaf back in 1999 after a slew of eclectic releases on underground Japanese dance labels. He released some of his greatest works in collaboration with the label; you can listen to, buy and enjoy the best of them at Urban Amplified.
BUY: Susumu Yokota - 'Magic Thread'
BUY: Susumu Yokota - 'Grinning Cat'
BUY: Susumu Yokota - 'The Boy And The Tree'
Caribou (formerly known as Manitoba, but name changed due to an American punk rocker claiming it as his own) is the brainchild of Dan Snaith. He plays guitars and keyboards, and combines them with more than a dash of computer wizardry to give his music a genial mixture of both the electronic and organic.
BUY: Caribou - 'Up In Flames'
BUY: Caribou - 'The Milk Of Human Kindness'
There's a couple of other Leaf titles available through Urban Amplified so, if you've liked the sound of anything you've heard so far, why not give these a whirl?
BUY: Boom Bip & Doseone - 'Circle'
BUY: Clue To Kalo - 'One Way, It's Every Way'
And if you're still not mighty exhausted after all that, nip over to the Leaf Label's website, which includes loads of information on the artists featured here and many more. Just click here! You can also visit their MySpace for more Leaf-related stuff.