Leaves news

New single 'Catch' 29th July 2002
Debut album 'Breathe' 19th August 2002
UK tour and festival dates Summer 2002

With the release of their third single and debut album this summer, Reykjavik's Leaves continue to make giant strides in 2002. The coming months will also see the band return to the UK for more live shows

A year that has seen Leaves become one of the bands 'most likely to…' continues to reward an adoring, ever-growing fan-base. First up is the deliriously hooky single 'Catch': a stand out song in the band's live set. Released on July 29th, 'Catch' sounds bound for the stars and is bound to be the band's biggest single yet. Formats and b-sides information will be announced shortly.

Two weeks later, Leaves release their debut album 'Breathe'. This epic wash of eleven tracks was recorded earlier this year in Reykavik. It was produced by the band and the away team, and has been mixed by Steve Osborne. It features 'Catch' and the previous Leaves singles 'Race' (May 2002) and January's limited edition debut 'Breathe'. The key to 'Breathe''s glories can be found in its marriage of expansive sounds, blissful melodies and singer Arnar's exceptional voice. Track listing:

Leaves - 'Breathe' (CD = BUN) Released on 12th August 2002.
I Go Down - Catch - Silence - Breathe - Crazy - Epitaph
Alone In The Sun - Deep Blue - Suppose - Race - We

Although friends since childhood, Leaves only formed a year ago. Once together they set to making the songs of the quietly spoken, starry-eyed Arnar Gudjonssen come alive. They moved into a red house in Reykjavik and gave up playing for Bardastrandir (an Icelandic third division football team - Hallur was the captain, Arnar Olafsson the left-winger, and singer Arnar the top scoring striker).

The first Leaves live show took place in an art gallery converted from a prison in Reykjavik in front of Iceland's music mafia. Shows in the UK and the US followed as the band inked deals with B-Unique in the UK and
Dreamworks in the States. In January, 'Breathe', the band's limited edition debut single, sold out in a week.

"A beautiful study of claustrophobia and solitude, it has 'classic debut' running right through it." NME on 'Breathe'.

Leaves followed this by returning to the studio to record the debut album. When finished they took to the road in the UK, playing dates with The Coral, Doves and Electric Soft Parade, as well as co-headlining a show with The Strokes in Reykjavik. They tour the UK once more in July, this time in the company of loved-up South Londoners Athlete (www.athlete.mu). They will also play at Glastonbury, Witnness, T In The Park and V festivals.
Leaves' first fully available single, entitled 'Race', emerged in May and became the band's first top 75 hit.

With the release of their third single and debut album this summer, Reykjavik's Leaves continue to make giant strides in 2002 (see previous page). The coming months will also see the band return to the UK for more live shows.

Leaves will begin their latest schedule live mission with a hometown show in Reykjavik on the 24th June. Their itinerary for the summer includes performances at Glastonbury, T In The Park, Witnness and V2002, as well as a national club tour with Athlete. Full schedule follows:

Leaves are Arnar Gudjonsson (vocals, guitar), Arnar Olafsson (guitar), Bjarni Grimsson (drums), Hallur Hallsson (bass).

www.leaves.tv