Did the album teaser already enthrall me; the album of Swiss Post Rock gods, The Stolen View, downright blew me away! What a great masterpiece, really! And since then it is permanently rotating in my player, I can’t do anything without it ;)
How additional fitting that LEECH have also released a split CD with their soulmates Long Distance Calling, entitled 090208, where you will find the song Inspiral from this new record.
The Stolen View is a pure instrumental album, not all-destroying sad, yet melancholic, dreamily melodious and with a psychedelic touch that spreads a certain kind of serenity, despite of the now and then appearing harsh riff work.
The Stolen View is an excellent record, on its sound cascades you want to latch onto, deeply sinking in their soundscapes, no more emerging again. LEECH offer a journey without an end, just for the discovery of music. Always again, always new, and always different. The journey is the reward.
The Stolen View is flawless, perfectly balanced, sophisticated and arranged. It reveals thrilling passages get built up, when harsh guitar work sets in or drum work sets accents; plays loud-low dynamics and just wafts atmospherically in its quiet moments, still captivating, intriguing, but in the very relaxed manner ;) And it works with the 8 minutes tracks (Silent State Optimizer and the breathtaking The Man With The Hammer) as well as with the 2 minutes interludes (Ziipfe, I Was Reversed) and with 13 and 20 minutes monoliths Inspiral (which reminds me of old Tangerine Dreams in the Near Dark movie) and Totem And Tabu. That truly is sound art!
The Stolen View is the fourth record fort he Swiss gents, who have put themselves on hold for quite some time. Locally released in the last year it comes now European-wide via Viva Hate and Cargo and should finally every sound-addicted and sound-willing ear. As for me: The Stolen View is definitely one of the highlights in 2009!