For Bows & Arrows Single
Left with Pictures ‘Bows and Arrows' (As Yet). You know how it is with these things, there we are all done and dusted and ready to hail the Hussy's debut as the Single of the Missive and along comes a late arrival to spoil the cork popping ceremonies. Life huh. This delightful twin set had literally just plopped itself on our door mat marking itself aside by the sheer tastiness of the packaging - well okay a CD, a photo, a well heeled biog done to look like a paper styled theatre program all lovingly housed blue paper bag the kind of which cards are sold to you in - okay no big deal but then we are simple in our tastes and disturbingly easy to please. Left with Pictures are a classically trained trio who admit to attempting to recreate the colour, beauty and textures of Debussy and Ravel on a shoestring budget - it is admittedly something which they are close to achieving. Two prior releases under their belts in the 'Rustic' EP and 'Making Chalk' (both of which I'm sad to say we here missed) and an appearance on a cover mount compilation put out by Meat Magazine which we will do our best to track down
now that this inspired gem has bewitched us. ‘Bows and Arrows' is simply enchanting and utterly beguiling, it transcends the normal parameters of pop providing a pretty picture box of ever evolving melodic landscapes. Part referencing both the lush tonalities of Van Dyke Parks and Stereo lab via ‘Cybele's Reverie' this sweetly souring honey offers a fascinating insight into the trio's vividly magical world of intelligently choreographed pocket symphonies. Puzzling and enchanting in equal measures this slice of longingly romanticised nimble folk is softly caressed by playfully fluffy Viennese ballroom accents and a subtle baroque beauty that at times recalls Momus, swept seductively by an undercurrent of delicate string washes that sound as though they've been hoodwinked straight from Nyman's ‘Draughtsman's Contract' sessions whilst all the time cast within a mercurial melodic myriad of timeless classicism rarely heard venturing onto a pop record since the hallowed days of Left Banke with a healthy side serving of Oddfellows Casino. The more earthbound ‘Piece of me?' features on the flip side, built upon a bed of crookedly bitter sweet shanty like melodies this has the harmonies taking centre stage and strangely enough recalls elements of early Flaming Lips and Gorky's as it builds in stature while never having to venture past cruise control as it with slight of hand deliciously disarms your defences. Joint single of the Missive - nothing less nothing more. www.leftwithpictures.com
MAKE NOISE AND DANCE.COM
All three members of Left With Arrows are classically trained and it shows. They play with incredible skill, their knowledge of the intricate science of music making Bows & Arrows all the more beautiful. Delicate strings and vocals dance around each other with clarity and charisma creating intense melodies that have their basis in chamber-pop with the emphasis definitely on the pop. Bows & Arrows skips between the drama of an elegant, formal ball the gentle breeze of a summer's afternoon with gorgeous ease.
For "EP" 2005
TASTY FANZINE, JULY 2005
Left With Pictures - ep
This 6 track ep is a delightful trip into another level. The beatle-esque vocals and harmonies from start to finish are an experimental journey produced tightly into something melodic. Each track tells a story and I'm in favour of the 6min track when it's this good. I couldn't begin to name each instrument (which is a good thing) but each has its well timed and appropriate place (the Dr Who "tardis" type sound is great). Its like very few sublime ep's I've heard but has some comparisons to Mercury Rev meets Bob Dylan meets the Beatles! Donavan & the Doors is my personal favourite, best enjoyed (I imagine) late at night, with good company and a little splash of whatever your vice may be. There's a line that goes like this "...and I appreciate every chord" this ep is certainly appreciated. Thanks (editor) for letting me review this one as the added bonus is that I get to keep the ep!! This is well recommended, money well spent, and is a quality buy for anyone who wants to enjoy atmospheric melodies on a journey in which to lose yourself.
Sarah McDonald
UK MUSIC SEARCH, MAY 2005
Imagining a less frenetic version of The Shins where 'the smack you in the face' caffeine rush of the songs has been replaced by a hazier whisper in your ear vibe, and Left With Pictures sound begins to take shape. Less infectious and immediately frenzied than The Shins, these are nevertheless songs that come from the same melting pot of pure pop classicism and over time manage to do the same job, although in a slightly subtler way.
As the sea shanty aura of REASONABLY KIND makes its presence felt with a lilting melodica line and sparse vocals, you're immediately thrown into Left With Pictures skewed worldview a place where folk sits next to indie rock and the occasional sea shanty can be thrown into the mix for good measure.
HER FATHER'S NOSE, a jaunty blend of acoustic guitars and upbeat vocal harmonies hits out with a bubbly suckerpunch of classic pop melodies and happy go luckiness while the darker, ALARM BELLS insinuates its way from your speakers with skeletal piano chords, subtle orchestral sweeps and a heartbroken vocal that echoes the genius of Elliot Smith in its introspective lilt.
Coming from a Nick Drake angle, HANDSOME MAN, sees the band delivering more sensitive acoustic balladry with enough quirky charm and unexpected instrumentation to ensure their place as a unique proposition, managing to land somewhere between Jeff Buckley, The Divine Comedy, Nick Drake and The Beatles.
Continuing in unique directions, DO YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME? blends experimental beats, whistles, vocals, orchestral flourishes and much more in the pursuit of interesting songwriting, all the while remembering to include a catchy pop song amidst the madness.
At times coming across like a more downbeat version of The Shins, at others an experimental pop band in the vein of The Beta Band and then now and again sounding like the new Nick Drake or Elliot Smith, Left With Pictures are certainly a band to pull in numerous directions. Never sacrificing a good song for the sake of experimentation, they are also a band well and truly on top of their game.
Left With Pictures deliver catchy pop songs wrapped up in bold musical directions and sprinkled with a large dose of emotional soul.
Mike Bond
JOYZINE, MAY 2005
Left With Pictures’ charming, low-key EP features 6 jauntily-downbeat songs that had me reaching for the thesaurus in search of new words for ‘fey’…! By the sound of things they’ve listened to more than a few Belle and Sebastian records in their time, but so have I, so who’s counting? They haven’t quite mastered the wonderfully dark spark that typifies B&S’s work, yet, but they’re very close. Glib comparisons aside, Left With Pictures are a great band, and the last two tracks on the EP are particularly good. ‘Do You Want A Piece Of Me?’ yearns for naughty bedsit fun and final track ‘Donovan & The Doors’ is lovely, woozy and withering all at the same time. Lovely stuff. To top it all off, the artwork is similarly excellent. [Illustration/design www.ventedspleen.com ] I look forward to their next release, because it may well be very special indeed.
Tom Leins