Leaf Hound – ‘Live In Japan’ CD/DVD

Another of Britain’s great rock n roll exports were recorded on stage in Japan in 2012. This patriarchal classic rock band had first come into existence in 1969 when Leaf Hound was born. Unfortunately only a short time after ( 1971 ) and with the release of only two albums, ‘Growers Of Mushrooms‘ and ‘Leaf Hound‘ which was released in Germany via Telefunken in 1971, the band broke up and they all went on to do separate projects. After a long break working with various bands Peter French ( vocalist ) was persuaded to reform the group in 2004 because of the re-release in 1994 of classic album, ‘Growers Of Mushrooms‘, which had become a bit of a cult album sparking a fire that has culminated in this live album. After another change of bass player we now have the current line up of Peter French, Peter Herbert on bass, Luke Rayner, lead guitar and Jimmy Roland on drums. Leaf Hound’s latest release, which will be available to purchase on Monday 13th of January, is a live recording from the aforementioned Japanese tour.  They were invited to Japan, with their premier appearance in Tokyo, and all their shows were recorded and filmed to put together a live album CD and DVD box set being released via Ripple Music.

Track one on the CD is ‘Barricades ‘, a great little number made of pure rock with great riffs and a song thats easy on the ears, I like this as it’s easy to join in singing with Mr French ( not recommended on my part ). It sounds like he was on top form making this song, so much so you’d think this was a studio recording and not done live in front of an audience. ‘Freelance Fiend‘ I thought for just a minute Jimmy Hendrix’s ghost was there with them on stage! With a bluesy style riff on the lead guitar along with deep bass cords, this is one epic rock blues song you must hear. So why not go over to your stereo, iPod, or whatever you use and pour a little warm stoner blues milk onto your metal rock cornflakes!

‘Work My Body’, a mellow tune to calm things down just a little. Time to get out the JD and kick back to listen to Luke Rayner making love to his guitar as Leaf Hound lead us to the half way point of the CD, bringing this song to an end with a massive riff and rockin conclusion. ‘Stop, Look And Listen’, this song has it all!! Just goes to show you, don’t right off the old boys yet lads! There’still plenty to be learnt from a classic rock band such as Leaf Hound as the title lyrics in this song say to us all! 

‘With A Minute To Go ‘, chilled to the bone! That was how this great rock song left me feeling. A cool hand on bass guitar kicks off this track accompanied by the lead, a steady beat on the drums and the voice of Peter French on a journey to Zeppelin-esk psychedelia themed blues rock. ‘One Hundred And Five Degrees‘, a good vibe with a hidden blues feel and lots of bass rhythms from Peter Herbert combined with a real earthy sound that seems to get right inside you. Finishing off the CD with an epic song ‘Evil ‘ which was first recorded by Howlin Wolf, back in 1954, and then again by Cactus, with whom French was the lead singer at one time.  It comes with that classic rock/blues feel, a brilliant piece of work from lead guitar again keeping the old traditional blues rock feel alive and then finishing off the track in an explosion of  abstract notes. Peter achieves an emotional performance here with this song straining his voice with a passion to hit those high notes. The song, a twelve bar beat, is punctuated with a syncopated backbeat, brief instrumental improvisations, and upper-end guitar figures. The music highlights the meaning in the lyrics, to-wit the “Evil” which can take place in a man’s home while he is away, “you better watch your happy home”, the song tells us!

Band members

Peter French

Peter Herbert

 Luke Rayner

Jimmy Roland

Tracklisting

CD:                                                                     DVD:

Barricades                                                         One Hundred And Five Degrees

 Freelance Fiend                                                Work My Body

 Work My Body                                                  Stop Look & Listen

 Stop Look & Listen                                            Freelance Fiend

 With A Minute To Go                                        The Man With The Moon In Him

 One Hundred And Five Degrees                      With A Minute To Go

 Evil                                                                      Barricades

                                                                             Breakthrough

                                                                             Growers Of Mushroom

                                                                             Evil

                                                                             Stagnant Pool

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