Leahy has released a new single and a new lyric video as their album launch approaches
Juno award-winning Canadian progressive folk-roots group Leahy has a brilliant new album called Good Water set to be released on Feb. 26.
The new album showcases their songwriting and singing and reveals a contemporary version of the original Leahy sound with the addition of electric guitar and accordion to their arsenal of instruments. They’ve released a new single today, “Little Moon” to tee up the release.
Last week, they also released a sparkling lyric video for their first single, “Good Water.” For more information please visit Leahy (leahymusic.ca).
Co-written by siblings Erin and Angus Leahy and originally arranged for violin and piano, the newest single, “Little Moon,” sees the group introducing the electric guitar into their sound, played by Canadian rock guitarist, Nick Johnston. The passionate duet between violin and electric guitar highlights the exquisite features that make both of these the “first instruments” in their respective orbits of Celtic roots on one hand and rock ‘n’ roll on the other.
The video, produced by Julie Frances Leahy with video and animation by Adam Helmers, features the simple flow of water that captures the essence of the powerful lyrics to the title track. The glorious multiple harmonies on “Good Water” offer a perfect vehicle for the anthemic sentiment of the song.
Produced and mixed by Grammy Award-winning Canadian David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Afro Celt Sound System), Good Water is the band’s most ambitious recording project to date, with stunning lead vocals, sibling harmonies throughout, and lush, polished production.
“Tears” is an epic, melodic pop song that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Celine Dion album – but with rockin’ electric guitar by Nick.
Propelled by some catchy, slip-time drumming, and a bittersweet melody that matches its sentiment, “Any Other Way” beautifully encapsulates the Joni Mitchell truism that something’s lost but something’s gained in living everyday. And on balance, it’s worth it.
“Friend” is a lyrical tribute to the natural ups and downs of an enduring, longtime friendship, that sonically rides on an effervescent piano part and ends on a tingling multiple-mandolin coda that recalls the opening of Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill.”
Practicing restraint
Another instrumental original that sounds as eternal and engaging as any classic fiddle tune you’d care to name, “Star of the Sea” highlights a spirited accordion that ends up in a harmonized duet with the fiddle.
“Falling,” the not-so-hidden gem of the album, is a breathtaking vocal performance of as pretty a ballad as you’ll hear anywhere. It benefits greatly from Leahy‘s determination not to yield to the temptation to build up the performance with the full band; instead, they leave it as an almost unadorned vocal and piano piece, which makes it that much stronger. Ballads are usually about lost love, but this one takes an ironic turn, because it’s about the uncertainty of a new-found one.
On “Joanne,” the pulsing piano takes the lead. The song sounds like Shawn Colvin and Bruce Hornsby got together for an uptempo, up-to-the-minute pop tune that asks the eternal questions: “Who knows you, who holds you, who loves you.”
“My Old Man” is an achingly beautiful piano ballad that tells the story of how the gift of music was passed down between two generations of the Leahy family, and how some of those in the younger cohort chose a different musical path but still strove to honour their father’s legacy.
Leahy’s emergence on the Canadian music scene in the late 1990’s with their chart-topping instrumental single “Call to Dance,” introduced audiences to a new way of accessing a uniquely Canadian music genre. The Leahy approach to traditional music – a combination of stride piano, driving rhythm guitar, propulsive drumming and a distinctive bass guitar style – a wholly original sound – was the foundation from which fiddle-led instrumentals were launched to mainstream music listeners. A timely performance at the Juno Awards led to being offered the opening act slot for Shania Twain on her record-breaking Come On Over tour. This amazing opportunity put their powerful performance in front of millions of music fans throughout North America and the UK.
