I have to admit that, plowing through the many submissions we receive each week, it was the EP title that caught my attention tonight.
“And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then” is an early line in Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ and was the inspiration behind the Norwegian band name Highasakite as leading songwriter Helene Håvik was a big fan of Reg Dwight.
You see, you learn something new every day in NMC, even if it is useless to you!
Leading Edge is a band from southern Sweden and since forming in 2012 has shaped its identity somewhere at the crossroads of Nordic folk, Americana and warm, melodic pop.
It releases its new EP ‘High as a Kite’ on May 22nd. They say it explores grief, helplessness, and love, and has evolved like an emotional diary.
The three songs are about people who have left their mark, and were written “to process what is difficult to put into words, moving through a landscape where grief meets quiet acceptance.”
The title track represents the feeling of helplessness when someone you love is going through something difficult and you don’t know how to help. And that same feeling runs through the EP, the heartfelt and the beautiful in constant balance.
In particular it relates to a friend going through a manic episode, and the feeling of vulnerability when those around couldn’t reach them.
Interestingly they usually introduce the song with the title, mention it’s about “a friend”, and then leave the rest open to interpretation.
It’s a jolly little number for sure, somewhat at odds with the subject matter and I’m always keen to highlight a band that can do that and still retain the requisite gravitas; it is no easy task. I’m minded of Of Monsters and Men and that is no faint praise.
Musically the Americana is punctuated by jangly keyboard chords and notes that might have belonged to Elton John himself in his heyday and there is an undeniable feel good atmosphere that is probably the best medicine when you are confronted with a disturbing episode like a breakdown.
While I concentrated on the title track I was particularly taken with the third track, ‘Silhouettes’, which strangely opens with the same theme as the preceding track ‘Forever Yours’, just in another key, has a melody to die for, and what sounds like a miscellaneous acoustic and synthesised backing that brings along a whole new aspect to their repertoire.
I’ve been trying to think who to compare them to, apart from Elton John, and eventually came up with The Seekers. They look pretty young and probably don’t know who they were but that’s no mean praise either.
The Seekers’ carnival may be over; Leading Edge’s is just starting.
(Continues after the Spotify link).
Band Members:
Anna Johannisson – vocals / acoustic guitar / lyrics
Vassily Kornienko – keys / backing vocals
John Ringdahl – drums
Lina Warntoft – bass / backing vocals
Elias Wahlstedt – electric guitar
Find them on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadingedgeofficial/
