Published 19 December, 2024 by DM
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Craig Kirkpatrick-Whitby, the guiding light of the MINING collective, whose Chimet album we released earlier this year.
When Matthew Bourne first brought the album he’d created with PJ Davy and Craig to us, it immediately had us under its spell. There was an otherworldly atmosphere to it that drew us right in. It was only later that we learned of its back story. We knew a 67-minute album of data driven soundscapes and improvisations wouldn’t be an easy sell, but felt strongly that with careful presentation and a fair wind, its quality would shine through and find its audience. Very much the sort of project Leaf has been proud to put its name to over the past three decades.
Craig had been battling cancer for a number of years, with significant health implications. The MINING project took a while to shape and Craig was central to everything, even while undergoing several major operations during that time. It certainly wasn’t a given that he would see it released into the world, but his optimism, enthusiasm and energy for the project saw to it that he did. Indeed, he was busy planning what the next MINING release would be throughout his battles.
Craig didn’t come from a music background, but it was a lifetime passion. His expertise was in the numbers, and the numbers have led him on a fascinating life to which we’ve only been privy to snapshots - data scientist, inventor and sailor. It’s not easy to sum Craig up, he had plenty to say and it often felt like his thought processes would be firing off in several directions at once, but ultimately his enthusiasm and ambition was infectious. He sat down with New Scientist for an in-depth interview about MINING and that’s probably the best insight you could get if you hadn’t spent time in his company. New Scientist have kindly made it free to view for a short time.
Craig was extremely proud of Chimet, and that recognition in winning Drowned In Sound’s Neptune Prize this year made it all the sweeter. A fine musical legacy we hope will continue to find its audience.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
Laurence Pike - AFTERWORLD - Sydney Festival
Published 21 November, 2024 by DM
Laurence Pike, in collaboration with award winning choreographer and film maker Sue Healey, will premiere a new work entitled AFTERWORLD at the prestigious Sydney Festival 2025. Pike will be performing music from his recent album, The Undreamt-Of Centre, alongside dancers and projections featuring the final work of Eileen Kramer as Eurydice. It will bring a new dimension to his record based on the Greek myth of Orpheus.
“This project has been in development for a few years now,” Pike explains. “Sue and I had been discussing the possibility of collaborating on a large-scale work together, and when I played her the initial mixes of the album almost three years ago, she immediately said she wanted to choreograph the entire record.”
There will be five performances between January 7-11th at the Bell Shakespeare Theatre, Sydney. Get your tickets now.
To mark the occasion, a live album recorded at Phoenix Central Park with the VOX Sydney Philharmonia Choir will be released digitally in January. Listen to ‘Orpheus In The Underworld (Live)’ now, and watch the video captured in rehearsals by Clemens Habicht.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
Snapped Ankles - Spring 2025 tour
Published 19 November, 2024 by DM
There’s something going down in the woods. Snapped Ankles have announced their biggest tour to date, with a run of over thirty shows in the spring. UK support comes courtesy of The Sick Man Of Europe.
Tickets have just gone on sale.
That’s all we can tell you for now, but make sure you’re signed up to Snapped Ankles’ newsletter for the freshest forest gossip.
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Decius - 'Birth Of A Smirk'
Published 12 November, 2024 by DM
It’s time for another taste of Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience). ‘Birth Of A Smirk’ is the second track taken from the second full-length Decius album, following on from ‘Walking In The Heat’.
“There’s usually a moment of rupture in life, where we fall short of even our lowest standards in lieu of some desperate pleasure - a rubicon of sensuality beyond which lies nothing but endless, bitter reckoning. This song is about such moments of personal fracture…HAIL”Meat Divine aka L. Saoudi
If you’re into ballet, and there’s every chance you are if Decius are your thing, it’s well worth checking out the video...
Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience) will land perfectly formed on January 31st, 2025. It will be available on black vinyl 2LP, limited indies only ‘Neptune Turquoise’ 2LP and limited ‘Assarius Copper’ 2LP via Rough Trade and Bandcamp. It will also be available on CD and digital. Pre-order now.
Their show at Peckham Audio on November 23rd is long sold out, but Decius have just announced a headline show at Fabric on February 20th. Get your tickets now. It's going to be special.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
- Craig Kirkpatrick-Whitby (1964 - 2024)
- Laurence Pike - AFTERWORLD - Sydney Festival
- Snapped Ankles - Spring 2025 tour
- Decius - 'Birth Of A Smirk'
- Craven Faults - Bounds out now
- 310
- Malcolm Pardon - The Abyss out now
- Decius - Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience)
- Malcolm Pardon - 'Side Effects' single
- Craven Faults - Bounds pre-order
- Laurence Pike - The Undreamt-of Centre out now
- Laurence Pike - 'Introit' video
- Craven Faults in Bristol and Salford
- Malcolm Pardon - 'Patchwork' single
- Laurence Pike - 'Mountains Of The Heart' single
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