Music #4 - City and Colour

Well this is it - our fourth and final music post, featuring an artist that is particularly special to me.

City and Colour is the recording alias for Canadian singer-songwriter, Dallas Green - an acoustic / folk / rock artist. City and Colour was yet again introduced to me by my music-fanatic-fiance, and is probably the most important artist in our relationship.

His first album that I heard, Sometimes, is a mixture of very soulful songs, that you can't help but kick back and relax to, and the album takes me straight back to long, lazy weekends in our first apartment.

From that first album I knew that I had discovered something very special - it was his voice, his lyrics and most of all, the way he gives himself entirely to his music.

City and Colour, 'Sometimes (I Wish)' - from Sometimes.


The first album that we purchased together was his next, Bring Me Your Love, which I bought for my fiance for Valentines day. This is also the album that contains a song that is so prominent in our wedding, which is now a mere 3 days away.

My fiance played me this song while he proposed to me, he engraved a careful selection of the lyrics in my ring and it is to be our first dance. What this song is however, I do not feel I can yet reveal ahead of the wedding, and so you will just have to wait for my series of wedding posts that I am scheduling for November.

Album-wise, Bring Me Your Love consist entirely of deep lyrics and staggering vocals, that leave the emotions open wide. He sings about death, about love, about his heart, with a voice that contains such feeling and honesty; it's defenseless and true.

City & Colour, 'Against the Grain' - from Bring Me Your Love.


This is a great example of what I mean by him giving himself entirely. I have never in my life seen or heard an artist perform with such fragility and feeling, like he is singing from the depths of his soul, and just to himself.

It feels lonely, and almost overwhelming. He sings about feeling isolated, feeling vulnerable, and feeling alone, and he delivers this not only through the lyrics, but the way he sings it too - you can hear it in his voice, and see it in his face.

City & Colour, 'Body in a Box' - from Bring Me Your Love.


Body in a Box is a great example of his way with words. I love the way he describes the tears of the grieving mourners, how Johnny's breath got taken, and how the souls of the dead take flight. Beautifully told. I always feel that I am on a journey when I listen to City and Colour - it is kind of like reading a really intense book.


Johnny lived a good life, you'll hear them say
As tears of sadness soak the ground
The reaper crept in, took his breath away
In the middle of the night, oh


We celebrate the lives of the dead
It's like a man's best party, only happens when he dies
We gather 'round to pay our respects
While their souls are still searching for the light
Searching for the light



City and Colour's most recent album, Little Hell, was released in the Summer of this year. The album has a definite groove to it - it is not all as stripped back as the last two albums, yet the subject matter is just as deep.

If any of you are lucky enough to be going to his gig in Cardiff tomorrow night, then be sure to tell us how it went, as we are extremely sad to be missing it. We have only been lucky enough to see him at one single gig, which was in London a couple of years ago, and it was magnificent - he is even more amazing live, if that is possible. As the absence of an introductory picture shows, we have yet to meet Dallas, but one day we shall, and it will be magical.

City & Colour, 'Weightless' - from the new album, Little Hell.


Stunning.


Want more?...

Check out the City and Colour website: cityandcolour.ca
Keep up to date on Facebook: facebook.com/cityandcolour
Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/cityandcolour
Listen more on Myspace: myspace.com/dallasgreen

Leaff is currently shut while we get married and enjoy our first couple of weeks as a married couple in our lovely home, which means I will be giving the blog a rest too. We will however be re-opening at the beginning of November, when I will be sharing all of my experiences in the planning of our wedding; mood boards, details, colours, suppliers and of course, our big day.

I hope that you have enjoyed our series of music posts, and that you have connected with at least one of the artists / groups. Whatever the outcome however, it has been a pleasure to share my thoughts on them, and to help to tell the world just how great they are.

Music #3 - Minus the Bear

Okay, so we are on the third instalment of our music posts, and we hope that so far you have been enjoying the music and artists that we have introduced you to.

Today, we are heading in a new direction again, with the fabulous indie rock band Minus the Bear.
Their music is very alternative, fantastically experimental, and ridiculously addictive.

The day we met Jake Snider (lead singer of Minus the Bear), November 2010.


I first discovered Minus the Bear through my fiance when we first met. Their upbeat, catchy, carefree and sometimes downright racy vibe got me straight away, and now their early music takes me right back to our first summers together - in fact, every summer together, as they seem to live on our stereo in the warmer months.

The first albums that I heard were Menos el Oso and They Make Beer Commercials Like This which offer a fantastic mix of beats and sounds, closely followed by our purchase of Planet of Ice which contains some of my very favourite songs.

It is really very difficult to explain just how good their stuff is, without hearing it for yourself, as it is just so different. So, I am going to let some of my favourite songs do the talking here:

Minus the Bear, 'Pachuca Sunrise' - from Menos el Oso.

Minus the Bear, 'I'm Totally Not Down With Rob's Alien' 

- from They Make Beer Commercials Like This.

Minus the Bear, 'Throwin' Shapes' - from Planet of Ice.

Enough said I think! Don't they make you long for long, hot summer days and those super relaxing, romantic beach holidays? I just adore the lyrics in I'm Totally Not Down With Rob's Alien, speaking of relaxing in the water, on a hot afternoon. They just ooze that super drained feeling you get in the heat of the sun...

And so Im swimming

More like floating

And I'll just stay out here

Until the night comes crashing down

And I swim out as far as I can

And float on my back

Just waitin' for nothin'

Not forgetting the inspiring lyrics in Throwin' Shapes, where they describe mother nature. These lyrics seem to have caused some controversy between fans, where everyone seems to have their own take on what it is about, especially seeing as so many of Minus the Bear's songs are about women, and love. Some say it is actually about a woman, others agree about mother nature, and others see it as a mix of the two - and all of this discussion is just testament to the thought-provoking and mysterious lyrics that they bring to the table time and again. So make of it what you will, these are my favourite of the lyrics...


Maybe come with me to the coast
And watch the way the rain comes down
Out of the shadows she's more passionate
We'll watch her roll in from the south


She'll wrap her sheets 'round us
Forget the sun


Moving from sea to land dancing
Swinging with the boats out there
She steps on toes if she wants to
No one's saying no, she wouldn't care


Amazing lyrics aside, what I also love about Minus the Bear is their laid back attitude, and clear passion for sound, which by now I am sure you can see, is very much reflected in their music. They don't take things too seriously, with their loopy song titles (point made above!), and the amount of different sounds that they experiment with and use - which often leave me wondering 'what on earth was that?!'. There are no confines, no pressures that they allow into their work, they just enjoy themselves and this is the product of that. Pure talent!

If we thought it couldn't get any better than this bunch of ear candy above, they released their latest album Omni in the Spring of 2010, and what an album it is! We listened to this album tirelessly that spring/summer, throughout the birth of Leaff, and during our much needed holiday afterwards, so it holds great memories for us.

I couldn't possibly choose a favourite off the album, they are all brilliant, but I am going to leave you with a live recording of them jamming My Time. This video shows you just how experimental their style is, their range of instruments, and exactly what I mean by 'racy' lyrics! It also gives you a sense of their incredible aura that they have about them when they play live. We have seen them many times, and every time I am blown away.

Minus the Bear, 'My Time' - from Omni.

Want more?...

Check out the Minus the Bear website: minusthebear.com
Keep up to date on Facebook: facebook.com/minusthebear
Follow them on Twitter: twitter.com/minusthebear
Listen more on Myspace: myspace.com/minusthebear

Next week is our fourth and final music post, so be sure to tune in then for the last instalment. As always, feel free to leave us your thoughts on this post - we love feedback.

Music #2 - Agnes Obel

Here it is - the second instalment of our music posts, which are running for the next two weeks also, bringing you four of our favourite artists/groups for you to discover and enjoy.

Today we are shining the spotlight on the outstanding folk/indie artist, Agnes Obel. Agnes is a danish singer / songwriter, living in Berlin, and my gosh is she special.

The day we met Agnes Obel and her cellist, Anna Muller, April 2011.
(We blogged about this gig back in April, which you can read here.)


We first discovered Agnes about 8 months ago, when perhaps her most famous song Riverside was played on 6Music, and had us immediately hooked. She is a fantastic pianist and an incredible song writer. Her music speaks of magic and mystery to me.

Agnes Obel, 'Riverside' - from her first album Philharmonics.


As well as her obvious musical abilities, I love Agnes' mind. She looks at things in such an interesting way, and seems to have such an extraordinary relationship with her music.

I recently read a fantastic interview with Agnes, by PageDigital, where she described her feelings for her music, which I found to be really interesting...


Obsession? Devotion? Sounds like Obel’s in a heavy relationship. “It’s a love story,” she confirms. “I think it is for everybody who makes music.”


As the songstress lists qualities she admires in music, I suggest they’re similar to ones sought in a lover. “Oh my god,” she laughs, a little shocked. “I don’t know… I think I also look for a friend in a lover. I’m not sure I would say music is my friend.”


Really? “It’s too powerful.” Songs can turn on you, says Obel. Perhaps that’s whey she has such respect for her melodies. What’s she thinking about up on stage, singing lines like: Guess who died, last night, in grey stockings? “Sometimes I just sit there thinking: Oh my god, this is horrible,” she admits, dissolving into laughter.


Extract from PagesDigital, read the full interview here.


In another interview with The Quietus, she described her inspiration...

"I think I get my inspiration from the melody. Sometimes I feel like a melody doesn't have anything to do with me, but it's just something that comes, is accumulated from me playing on the piano, and then this little creature just appears." She giggles quietly. "Then I just follow it, and I don't feel like I'm making it. It's like it makes sense, it wants to go that way, and I feel like sometimes there's a story in it, a little story. Maybe the right hand is playing something and the left is like, 'Oh. It's saying something.' There's a certain atmosphere and mood to it."


Extract from The Quietus, read the full interview here.


I love how intense her relationship with her music is. In some ways it seems to be the love of her life, but in others it seems to be a bit of an enemy. It is incredible how she talks about the lyrics like she didn't consciously write them. It seems as though her music is from within her - it possesses her, controls her mind to form the words and her fingers to form the melody. She is in awe of it, controlled by it, humbled by it, and at the same time perhaps a little afraid of it.

The lyrics quoted in the extract from Pages Digital is actually one of my favourite of her songs, Philharmonics. The lyrics and sounds conjure up eerie, magical and beautiful images in my mind - it is so inspirational.

Agnes Obel, 'Philharmonics' - from her first album Philharmonics.


Philharmonics, her first and only album to date, showcases her talent across the board - where she wrote, played, sang, recorded and produced all of the material herself. There is a good mixture of songs on the album, and some of which are purely instrumental, which I love. The album also includes a cover of John Cale's I keep a close watch (Close Watch), which is beautifully executed.

Agnes is now in the process of writing her next album, which we cannot wait to hear.

Want more?...

Check out Agnes' website: agnesobel.com
Keep up to date on Facebook: facebook.com/agnesobelofficial
Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/agnesobel
Listen more on Myspace: myspace.com/obelmusic
Buy Philharmonics now: facebook.com/philharmonics

Again, next week we will be releasing the next music post, so keep your eyes peeled for that. In the meantime, we would love to hear your thoughts on this post - are you a new Agnes fan who will be purchasing the album? An existing fan who wants to share their thoughts? Please feel free to leave us your comments.

Music #1 - Thrice

Welcome to the first of 4 music posts, introducing you to the bands and artists that inspire us. The aim is to bring you creative inspiration from a new angle, and for you to find at least one new artist or group that you want to immediately run out and buy the albums of.

To kick things off, I am beginning with experimental post-hardcore band (though they are hard to pigeon hole), Thrice, in celebration of their latest album release Major/Minor, that we had a much anticipated first listen to last night. If any of you fancy sampling it, they are actually performing some of the new songs in a live session at the Red Bull Studio, tonight at 10pm UK time.


The day we met Dustin Kensrue (lead singer and lyricist in Thrice), January 2010. 
Can you see the awe in our eyes?! He was just as kind and gentle as I imagined he would be.


I first discovered Thrice through my fiance when we first met - a devoted fan he was even then, and that has just grown and spread all over me too, with their infectious talent. At the very beginning, all I had heard was their earlier, heavy stuff like from their album Artist in the Ambulance, and although I was immediately struck by their lyrical talents, and loved some of the songs, the majority of sounds were a bit too hard for me.

The first new album release that I experienced was The Alchemy Index, and in true Thrice-fan-style, my fiance had planned the release day out perfectly. He had booked the day off work for us both, but we got up at the crack of dawn for a treat of a breakfast and a stroll into town along the river, on what was a beautiful Spring morning. Arriving at HMV as it opened, we rushed in and bagged our pristine copy of the album. The walk home was a lot less calm, as we power walked the whole way in anticipation! Finally, we clambered through the door of our apartment and crashed on the bed with our headphones. Then, on that first listen, Thrice had me hooked, with a much more experimental sound that they had developed.

Thrice are such a special band, because they are made up of such amazing people, with such incredible skills. They are fathers, husbands and music lovers. They are family men. They have never been chasing fame or money, or dabbling in drugs, as so many in their line of work do - instead they have a real, true passion for what they do. They create the music that they want to create, and with a massive fan base that has grown up with their ever evolving music, they are the most loyal fans I have ever known, and I am proud to call myself one of them. Thrice have no bounds, and I love that - they are constantly experimenting with new sounds, new ways of doing things, and that is what is so exciting about them.

The Alchemy Index album was split into 4 discs - Earth, Air, Fire and Water. While Fire was obviously heavier, I really enjoyed it in contrast to the lighter Earth, Air and Water discs - and they all work so perfectly together. This album, for me, was where they excelled in every way - lyrically, and with sounds that worked in such harmony.

Thrice, 'The Whaler' - from The Alchemy Index, Water disc. 

Delivered beautifully by lead singer Dustin Kensrue.

Thrice, 'Silver Wings' - from The Alchemy Index, Air disc.

The Whaler is one of my very favourites of all Thrice's songs - it really moves me inside. I love the way he describes the tears in his daughters eyes as tiny seas, and the pure depth of emotion that is within the lyrics - it always makes me think of him leaving his family for tour.

Silver Wings for me, is by far the best example of how amazing Thrice are lyrically. Every time I hear this air sonnet, I am blown away by their skill, and to do this absolute justice, I have copied the lyrics below, incase you can't make all of them out in this recording.


From tender years you took me for granted
But still I deign to wander through your lungs
While you were sleeping soundly in your bed,
(Your drapes were silver wings, your shutters flung)


I drew the poison from the summer's sting,
And eased the fire out of your fevered skin.
I moved in you and stirred your soul to sing;
And if you'd let me I would move again.


I've danced 'tween sunlit strands of lover's hair;
Helped form the final words before your death.
I've pitied you and plied your sails with air;
Gave blessing when you rose upon my breath.


And after all of this I am amazed,
That I am cursed far more than I am praised.


If you haven't already established, Dustin has an amazing mind - he is deeply intelligent and emotionally intense. I love hearing his strong views on the many things he talks about, but especially marriage and love, which are often expressed through the songs he writes. On the new album, Major/Minor, the song Anthology is a great example of this - and what a great recording this is too...

Thrice, 'Anthology' - from Major/Minor, their newest release.

After only having one listen so far, I can't wait to hear more of the new album - to hear all of the different instrumental layers and to pore over the lyrics. But, need I say it, it is sure to own our home over the next few months at least.

Want more?...

Check out the Thrice website: thrice.net
Keep up to date on Facebook: facebook.com/officialthrice
Follow them on Twitter: twitter.com/officialthrice
Listen more on Myspace: myspace.com/thrice
Read more about them: ocweekly.com

Next week we will be releasing the next music post, so keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, tell us what you think of this post and Thrice - are you a new fan that will now be purchasing an album? A contented existing one that wants to share thoughts? Do share, we love to hear from you!

Canal Boat Art

I do love to stroll alongside the canal, feeding the ducks and swans, and watching the boats go by. Worcester is great for that, and towards the Diglis end in particular, there is such a holiday feel about it, and the pace of life seems slower.

Some people even live on the canal boats, and lately, on the cooler evenings, it has not been uncommon to catch the distinct smell of a log burner, which some have aboard their boat - aboard their home.

There is something about canal boats - the idea of being on the water in a snug homely boat, next to a real fire - and the fact that you can do literally anything you like to it. I have often seen people doing up the boats, which I find fascinating, and that is how I discovered Canal Boat Art.

Sitting on the water one day was a beautiful boat, painted with the most stunning landscape scene, which seemed to just melt into the surroundings...

Luckily the boat in question also carried a website address for the artists, and so after a quick search, I found out a lot more about them.

Canal Boat Art is a consortium of artists, that serve not just England, but all over the world. They create personal commissions for boat owners - from pastoral scenes that blend into the landscape (like this one), to brazen collages that spark fun and amusement, and in all cases, creating personal pictures that will bring pleasure for generations.

I do like to discover something new, and this is one of my very favourite discoveries to date.

Christening Invitations

One of our most recent projects has been the design and creation of some gorgeous invitations, for a joint Christening. We had so much fun creating these, as so much experimentation went into them. Finally, we can unveil the end result, as we packed them up ready for delivery...

Both the elephant and the kiss stitch border were hand embroidered, and the names that have been blown from the elephants trunk, hand painted. In the copy, we added a real warmth and playfulness - with the reference to 'Grandma's House' for example.

These invitations were digitally printed onto a thick, uncoated, lightly textured ivory stock, and teamed with matching blue envelopes, with detail picked up on the diamond flap seal.

Awesome Autumn

As you can see from the beautiful burst of yellow, Leaff has now transformed into the season of Autumn - our very favourite of the seasons. There is a lot that I love about Autumn...

The chill in the air; the first wear of my warm coat; the distinctive smell and lingering smoke from a nearby fire; the silence of a crisp morning; the certain sound of footsteps on frozen pavements; the way the frost illuminates the webs in the garden; the comfort of lights glowing from warm houses; the sleepiness of dark mornings; the cosiness of dark evenings...

Long, fresh walks in the countryside; the beauty of the leaves as they explode into colour; the crispness as you tread on them; the ruffled birds on the garden fence, waiting for their fatty breakfast; my breath hanging in the air; the magic of halloween; the sight of the pumpkins growing in the nearby allotments; the smell of smoke on bonfire night; the crackle of sparklers...

A glass of red wine in front of our log fire; soft, comforting candlelight; extra blankets on the bed; being inseparable from my hot water bottle; lazy weekends in our home; hot herbal baths where the steam clings to the window; 'soul food' for supper; the anticipation of a snowy winter; the excitement of the festive season; and the magic that is still to come.