LEIF Vinyl & CDs

Review: Fresh from delving into his ambient side on the pastorally-enhanced "Loom Dream" album for Whities, Leif revives his self-manned Tio Series with another double-shot of delicate but impactful cuts outside the conventional slipstream of modern techno. The rhythms fall crooked, the synths trickle, bubble and cascade around the groove and the atmosphere remains humid and heady, especially on ear-snagging B-side "Rumex". "Montpelier" sports more explicit dubby flourishes and a spread of sonic flora and fauna in the middle distance that truly brings the track to life.

Review: After the widespread acclaim for "Shoulders Back" and "July V", Leif fires up his 10" TIO Series with another pair of dazzling, future-minded cuts for the more inquisitive dancefloor. Increasingly he's been moving away from house and techno conventions towards intriguing broken beat variations, and that's apparent in abundance on this new release. "Bluebird" rides on a set of tough but dynamic drum ripples, but the stand-out element is the gorgeous twinkling arpeggio that pirouettes over the top of the beat. "Number 13" meanwhile takes a moodier, dubbier approach without losing that deft programming, harmonic warmth and crafty rhythmic interplay that has become Leif's calling card in recent times.

Review: Having wowed hearts and minds with his Dinas Oleu LP for Fear Of Flying, Leif has been quietly issuing out singles for sister label Sudden Drop, but now this new release finds him branching out to pastures new for Bristolian imprint Idle Hands. With the new territory comes a new slant towards broken beat productions, as "Life Through Analogies" layers up all manner of disorientating found sounds around a shaking beat. Leif's knack for serene melodies is still intact though, as is evident on the sumptuous "My Heart Stopped Beating", while "Salix" represents the moodiest of all the tracks. It's a marvelous fresh move for an ever-developing artist, and it sounds right at home on Idle Hands.