Leaves (Icelandic band)

Leaves is an Icelandic rock band that was formed in early 2001 by Arnar Guðjónsson and Hallur Hallsson. A short time later, the line-up by Arnar Olafsson, Bjarni Grimsson, and Andri Asgrimsson was completed. All the musicians were friends even before the foundation of the band. The band name was chosen in reference to the album Five Leaves Left of the English singer -songwriter Nick Drake.

Biography

After they had recorded his first demos, they gave their first concert in October 2001 on the Icelandic Airwaves festival. The following month, she went to England to go there with bands like The Bluetones, Doves and The Strokes on tour. Also in late 2001 signed a contract with Leaves British indie label B -Unique for which they ausschlugen offers from larger companies like Iceland Records, a label of Universal Music majors, or Virgin Records.

In early 2002 began Leaves with the recording of their debut album. Responsible for the recordings, recorded the production team Away team, which had already made ​​his work with Badly Drawn Boy and Athlete a name. Mixed the album at Air Studios by Steve Osborne, whose references the Doves, Suede, Happy Mondays, KT Tunstall, Elbow and Starsailor was counted. The Breathe -titled album was enthusiastically received by critics and elected by the influential British music magazine Q of the 50 best albums of the year 2002. The band was quickly matched by a quiet, straightforward melodies with Coldplay and the Doves. Breathe From a total of four singles were released: Breathe, Race, Catch, and Silence. Of these, however, was able to achieve a chart entry in the UK only Race. 2003 Breathe was released with bonus tracks Sunday Lover and Favour on DreamWorks Records in the USA. Following the publication of Leaves played a U.S. tour as the opening act of the Stereophonics.

In the summer of 2004 Leaves recorded their second album, The Angela Test, in her own studio in Reykjavík. The album was produced by Marius de Vries, who already worked with artists such as Björk, Madonna, Rufus Wainwright, U2, PJ Harvey and Elbow, and mixed by Rich Costey ( Muse, The Mars Volta, Foo Fighters, Supergrass, Interpol ). The Angela Test was released in August 2005 on Iceland Records and contained the two singles The Spell and Goodenough.

On 11 May 2009, published Leaves of their third album, We Are Shadows, on their own without the support of a record company.

Discography

Albums

• Breathe (2002)
• The Angela Test ( 2005)
• We Are Shadows ( 2009)

Singles

• Breathe (2002)
• Race ( 2002)
• Catch (2002)
• Silence ( 2002)
• The Spell (2005)
• Goodenough (2005)