The Leaf Library

Recording Part 1

2011-08-22T21:01:00.004+01:00

Delay, tremolo and infinite reverb you say? Yes please.

Sonic Inspiration Mix

2011-08-10T14:13:00.005+01:00

[Click it]

Some sounds that are floating around in Ben's head when he thinks about recording the new album.

Summertime news

2011-06-16T19:54:00.002+01:00

Well, not news really but we did a nice mix. Go on, click the picture...

Last Chance To Pay What You Like

2011-03-22T15:31:00.001Z

Our album 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions' is hitting digital music stores on Monday so you have until then to grab it in exchange for a price of your own choosing (0p - £1,000,000) through our Bandcamp. After that it'll be up for a set price.

Read and Shout 2011

2011-03-17T20:40:00.004Z

We're on at 6pm - see you there! More info here.

Tomorrow Will Be Ok

2011-03-03T20:38:00.001Z

Lewis made this. You can find it on our album 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions'.

magicrpm.com Interview

2011-02-12T19:32:00.001Z

We've been interviewed for French "uber cool indie pop website" magicrpm.com. English follows or hit the link to read it en Français.

Can you introduce us to all the members in the band, and tell us who does what.

Kate Gibson sings and plays the keyboards, Matt Ashton plays the guitar and sings a bit, Gareth Jones plays the bass guitar, Ben Smith plays the guitar and a bit of keyboards and Lewis Young plays the drums and also a bit of keyboards.

How old is The Leaf Library? How did you meet each other, and how did you start? We know that Matt was in the band Saloon, but did the others members have other bands too?

Matt: Kate and I are friends from way back and we got to know Ben through music in our hometown of Reading.

Gareth: I had been a fan of Saloon since seeing them on tour in Manchester where I studied, and many years later I read that they had broke up and there were new bands. The Leaf Library needed a bassist and I really liked the idea of what they wanted to, and the songs Matt & Kate played for me sounded great, so I was really happy to join. Other than this I also play in a group called Wintergreen who make The Leaf Library seem like the hardest-working band around.

Lewis: Working in town as a designer a friend at work Jon overheard I was a drummer and told me about this Leaf Library lot who had a drummer shaped hole in them. I can’t actually remember when I first jammed - about a year? We should have a birthday party. I also play bass with Naomi Hates Humans and have a solo project called SIGNALSIGNAL.

What is your first musical memory together?

Matt: We first played together with this line-up a year ago and it was a massive revelation. We’re a proper band! Before that, Kate and I first played together about thirteen years ago for a friend in my bedroom. I think he was impressed. After Saloon finished we got together again and had a band in Reading called Maps. When I moved to London it gradually became The Leaf Library with first Gareth and then Ben joining us. Lewis is the newest and also the best-dressed.

Was there some sort of project, or goal behind The Leaf Library when you started? Are your influences still the same today than at the beginning? What can inspire you be outside of music (movies, literature…)?

Matt: When Kate and I first started the band I wanted to do something that was a lot more stripped-down than I was used to. I wanted to make nice songs out of the minimum amount of parts and to play as little as possible on the guitar which was all a reaction to what I had been doing in Saloon - piling everything on and trying to make a really big sound. I also wanted to try and use very few lyrics as I’m not that good at writing lots of words. I think that has changed a bit now but we still try and start with as little as possible or make loads of parts and then gradually strip them away. I still don’t write that many words. The music isn’t influenced all that much by film or literature (although ‘No Memories, No Plans’ is a line from Chris Marker’s ‘La Jetee’) - more the weather, walking, buildings and stationery. And lots and lots of other people’s music.

What are the three things that didn't influence The Leaf Library?

Hedonism
The quest for fame
Kings of Leon

You're releasing your first record after many active years as a band. What took you so long to get it out? Did you experience difficulties during the making of this record? Was it too long for you or exactly the time you needed?

Matt: It has been a combination of finishing a degree, tardiness, being picked up then ignored by a label and a bit more tardiness. It’s mainly made up of songs that we recorded here and there early on while trying to get a sound down, it was only after a while that it felt like a album. It’s taken us far too long which is very frustrating - we want to have something new recorded and released by the end of the year. They used to do it like that in the old days, right?

In which ways do you think that the band changed since its birth?

Matt: We’ve got a lot more confident in both writing and playing. I enjoy playing live a lot more whereas before I was worried about messing up all the time.

How do you write your songs? Does someone come up with the parts, or is it a democratic process? Are they some songs that came spontaneously during rehearsals?

Matt: Nowadays we all write the music together, usually around a part that I have come up with. Before it was Kate and I that wrote everything. I write all the words. Nothing spontaneous yet - we’re not very good at playing together unless we know exactly what’s going on. None of us have been to rock school and it takes us a little while to work out what string to play or what button to press.

Are the songs in the record old or recent? How long does it take you to finish one usually? Were they songs left over?

Matt: All the songs on the record are pretty old. The record includes the very first song that I wrote for the band, the very first thing we ever recorded at home and the first thing we ever went into a studio to record. Songs for us take quite a while to complete. We often start playing them live before they’re properly finished which can sometimes delay their completion. One of our current songs ‘New Buildings’ has been around forever but it’s taken until now to get the right arrangement. We like things to be just right but then I also like the feeling of playing something that’s new and unfinished to a room full of people. It’s a good test. Nothing was left over that was finished properly. The new stuff will be a combination of that and brand new songs.

There are some arrangements on the record: horns, strings. Do you compose them? How do you decide that some song needs something more or not? Do you wish you could have had more instruments like that on your record, or, on contrary, do you prefer when they appear sparingly?

Matt: We wrote the parts with the people that played them. The horns were added to certain songs and not others mainly because I was trying to capture a feeling that I’d heard on another record. Sparingly is good on a record but I’d love to have a horn section live and then fine them their wages when they screwed up.

You go through a variety of styles in this record, from repetitive krautrock bits (Closer) to more melancholic and calm songs (I Was There): is it important to you to go in different places? Does it mean that each member have different musical tastes regarding the other?

Matt: We all have different tastes and it’s very important to have different directions. I think it’s a reflection of personal tastes more than the differences between what each of us are into. I wouldn’t want to listen to just one thing all the way through a record.

How would you define the perfect pop song? Give me three examples.

Matt: You can’t define it, that’s why it’s so great. Though I would say ‘Tears of a Clown’ is a pretty good attempt. Ben will say ‘Wichita Lineman’. I don’t know about the others. One more? ‘Outdoor Miner’ by Wire.

The title of the record comes from the lyrics of your 2010 single Activity. Why did you give the album this title? Does it have some special meaning for you?

Matt: It’s an enigmatic phrase that you can attach a meaning to, which is perfect for an album title. In a way it also describes our way of working and existing as a band.

What is your favorite song from this new record? Why?

Matt: ‘No Memories, No Plans’ captures the feeling that I wanted perfectly. I still get the feeling it’s meant to evoke even now, despite it being several years old.

You released Different Activities... with a pay-what-you-want price on your bandcamp. Why did you choose to do that? Do you think that it is the best solution right now for indie bands? Do you avoid labels on purpose or is it just the simplest way you had to release your music? Will you release it physically at some point?

Matt: It was Ben’s idea to do it this way. We’d talked for a while about how to release it and, whereas we didn’t want to just give it away, we also felt that we’re pretty, you know, small. We didn’t think that many people would buy it. Doing it this way was a great idea and the response has been really good. We’re not talking ‘In Rainbows’ kind of numbers, it’s just nice to see people listening to our hard work. I think it’s a great idea for other bands but it’s up to them how they try and make their way. This is fun for us, we’re not trying to make a living and we’re (kind of) happy if people just want to take the music and run. As I said, we didn’t want to just give it away though. When it’s free for us to record maybe we’ll give it away then. If the demand was there then I’d like to do a physical version although by that point I’d like to think we’ll be several releases down the line so maybe there would be no point. We talked about doing a CD but couldn’t face the thought of having them lying around for years, mocking us with their cheap plastic cases. That, I’m afraid, is the cold hard reality of releasing music these days.

(note: The album will be now fully released digitally through Proper Songs propersongs.net/label on 28th March. It will remain on Bandcamp as pay-what-you-want until then)

If I give you the opportunity to sign with the label of your dreams, past or present, which one would it be and why?

Matt: 1970s Island Records would do.

You don't seem to do much live shows. Why? Are you more of a studio band? Do you plan to visit France at some point?

Matt: I love playing live but it takes up a whole lot of energy and time which is all at a premium these days. That said, I’d love to play in France again soon - the last time I played in Paris turned into a bit of a messy night and I’ve got some apologising to do.

What do you do for living/ beside music?

Matt: Graphic design.
Gareth: I work in a university library. Not with leaves.
Lewis: Web design.

It’s the new year… What can we wish for you? What are your future projects? Are you working on something new?

Matt: We’re working on all the new songs that have been sat patiently at the back of the room while we finished this record. They’re excited and so are we.

Different Activities, Similar Diversions

2011-01-10T09:00:00.008Z

Welcome to 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions', our long-discussed debut long player made up of all the recording adventures we've had over the past few years. We're very pleased with it and we hope that you like it too.

The album wouldn't have been possible to finish without the help of a whole bunch of people. A big thanks then to Rob Smoughton who played drums on most of the record, Simon Nelson, Alec Gregory, Simon Trought and Tom Giles for recording us, Tom Corbett for mastering the record, Alice Holloway-Smith for playing the trombone, Alice Lloyd for playing the violin and Michael Smoughton for playing the trumpet and who sadly isn't around to hear it. Thanks as well to Mark Cremins, Sarah Jo Underwood and Pete Brookes who all gave/lent us instruments that ended up on the record.

You can name your price for a download from Bandcamp now, with it going up at all other reputable digital stores in March.

(Not) The Track And Field Winter Sprinter

2010-12-30T16:37:00.000Z

FORTUNA POP! PRESENTS (NOT) THE TRACK AND FIELD WINTER SPRINTER
The Lexington, 96-98 Pentonville Road, N1 9JB
4th-6th Jan 2011, 8pm

Tue Jan 4th - Shrag + The Loves + Standard Fare
Wed Jan 5th - Comet Gain + The Loft + Veronica Falls
Thu Jan 6th - Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern + The Wave Pictures + The Leaf Library
plus DJs Track & Field, Cool In A Crisis, Alex (Dream Diary) and Scared To Dance

Three night Season Ticket £20
Individual shows: Advance: £7.50 from We Got Tickets / £9 Door

fortunapop.com

And again.

2010-12-06T13:50:00.001Z

Photos by Simon

Thanks Brixton.

2010-11-26T13:58:00.000Z

Thanks to Ian from How Does It Feel for having us.

We're Jamm-in

2010-11-13T15:39:00.001Z

We're playing a gig.

Deets at FB

Signals

2010-08-10T14:22:00.001+01:00

Lewis went and did a mix:

Signalsignal Summermix10 by Signalsignal on Mixcloud

Rehearsal

2010-07-21T20:47:00.003+01:00

Buffalo Bar VI

2010-07-14T12:41:00.008+01:00

Take it easy Lewis.

Thanks to Club Fandango.

Mapreader

2010-07-03T20:17:00.002+01:00

Matt went and did a mix:

Listen To The Sound Of The Earth Turning Mix by Mapreader on Mixcloud

No Leaf Library, just lots of nice droney bits. Cheers.

Buffalo Stance

2010-06-28T21:56:00.003+01:00

The Leaf Library + The Musgraves + Tom Williams And The Boat + B For Butterfly
8pm @ Buffalo Bar, Highbury Corner, N1 1RU
£5/£4 with flyer

More info here.

Thank you Church Street

2010-06-24T13:01:00.002+01:00

Photo by Andrew Bulhak

BBC Introducing

2010-06-14T11:01:00.003+01:00

------------------------------------------------------------
BBC Introducing: Fresh On the Net
Monday 14th June 2010 01.00-03.00
------------------------------------------------------------

LIES - Coming Home
YUNIOSHI - CTRL
ESTATE - Let Her Know
FEVER FEVER - Monster
DOYLE AND THE FOURFATHERS - The Governor Of Giving Up
THE LEAF LIBRARY - Activity
THE VENUS STARE - Close To You
SLOWGUN - Stephen
THE GULLIVERS - In Orbit
THE FAMILY MACHINE - Got It Made
MAMMAL CLUB - Put Your Fears In Order
THE PHANTOM BAND - Folk Song Oblivion
UTE - Bunker (Live At One Big Weekend)
SCUBA - Symbiosis
HREDA - Dead Horses
BASKIN'S WISH - If I Had You Now
ROMAY - Sitars From Above
MASS - General Grievance
TROY FAID - Part Time Philosopher
YOUTH IN COLOUR - Play Beautiful
SUSIE HUG - Shed A Tear
SYLVIA HALLETT - Betty Martin
SOUNDTRACKS FOR A B-MOVIE - This Is Us
JENNIFER LEONHARDT - Dido (REMIX) - 2:41
UTE - Brother (Live At One Big Weekend)
CLOUD4MATIONS
KING B*****D - Losing My Mind Through Bridge Meadow

Listen again here.

"Hello Church Street"

2010-06-02T13:36:00.004+01:00

We're playing live at Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington on Saturday 19th July, courtesy of Odd Box Records. Also playing are Corey Orbison, Ace Bushy Striptease and Lovelust.

More info here.
£5 tickets here.

Friday playlist

2010-05-07T14:36:00.002+01:00

07052010: Once around the park

Casiotone Loc

2010-05-06T18:49:00.000+01:00

Grovesnor - Soft Return

2010-04-26T10:22:00.003+01:00

Rob, the drummer on a number of tracks on our album 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions' releases his new album as Grovesnor. It's out today on LOAF and it's going to be great! Just off to the shops to get it now...

Friday playlist

2010-04-23T12:36:00.001+01:00

23042010: Plant pot bird

Activity/Carousel Single Out Today

2010-04-19T10:00:00.004+01:00

We have a new single out today for free download through cool French label BEKO DSL.

The first track is 'Activity', an old song we finally managed to nail with a new arrangement. The first lyric of the song is also the title of our *as-yet-unreleased* debut album 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions'. It was originally intended to be the first song on the album but made way for 'New Year'.

The second track is a new instrumental we wrote in rehearsal. If you're a member of our Facebook group you might have seen we offered some kind of "prize" to whoever became our 200th fan. We ended up deciding this prize would be the somewhat selfish gift of naming the track, so thank you to Sarah Kennedy for the fitting title of 'Carousel'. Thankfully she didn't choose 'Monkey Trousers' or something like that. We'll be consulting Sarah on all our song titles from now on.

Download the single here: beko-dsl.com.

The Form Group : Four Improvisations

2010-04-13T11:13:00.003+01:00

In his spare time Matt makes music as The Form Group and he has some new/old music released this week on Proper Songs. Using guitars, electronics and field recordings he makes experimental and soporific drone music that invokes the looped guitar explorations of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno, the soundtracks of Peter Broderick and the spatial atmospherics of Vladislav Delay and Basic Channel.

‘Four Improvisations’ was recorded direct to minidisc in Reading in 2003 and features delayed guitar, amp hum and the manipulated sounds of a dripping tap. Originally self-released as a CDR this re-release is a fully remastered version with new artwork.

Joined by violinist Alice Lloyd (as heard on our track 'Evening Runner'), The Form Group performed an alternative soundtrack to Wim Wenders’ classic ‘Alice in the Cities’ as part of the Reading Experimental Film Festival in October last year. They are currently working on the next release, a conceptual long form piece tentatively titled ‘Early Morning Songs’.

You can buy it here.

Ghost hardware

2010-04-09T23:18:00.002+01:00

No Memories, No Plans (Clause 4 remix)

2010-04-07T22:03:00.005+01:00

Another one from our cellar. DC Recordings artiste Clause 4 gives this oldie a lick of warm synth paint.

Download 'No Memories, No Plans (Clause 4 remix)'.

BEKO Single

2010-03-30T11:16:00.004+01:00

We're recording some tracks for the cool French digital single label BEKO. Our single will be available to download for free from 19th April.

Tracklisting:
A. Activity
B. Carousel

New Year (Old Year)

2010-03-24T21:29:00.003Z

An old and forgotten about home recording session for New Year unearthed and transformed into something new.

Download 'New Year (Old Year)'.

Gig This Friday!

2010-03-21T23:15:00.003Z

We're playing at Fortuna Pop's Basement Scam club at the Buffalo Bar in Islington this Friday 26th March with Fists, We Show Up On RadaR and Marcel. Email us at theleaflibrary@gmail.com for entry on the £4 guestlist - we'll be on third, whatever time that turns out to be. More info at buffalobar.co.uk

Hundreds Of Sparrows (Sparklehorse Cover)

2010-03-14T16:21:00.003Z

Download 'Hundreds Of Sparrows'.

Egyptian Reggae (Jonathan Richman Cover)

2010-03-04T22:05:00.003Z

This is our cover of the classic Jonathan Richman track. It was done for a tribute album that might be coming out sometime.

Losing Places (Ben's Dub Remix)

2010-02-28T22:46:00.003Z

Half Croydon, half Twin Peaks; here's something that's been hidden away in The Leaf Library vault for a year or so. Tided up and finally finished off today.

Download 'Losing Places' (Ben's Dub Remix)

New Year (Demo)

2010-02-26T14:09:00.005Z

This version of New Year is the original demo Kate and Matt recorded on four track in Matt's bedroom in North London. Tape hiss-tastic! We tried to retain the feel in the studio version (recorded four years later) as we all loved it so much.

Download New Year (Demo)

Friday playlist

2010-02-26T00:00:00.001Z

26022010: Cold toes

First gig in ages...

2010-02-25T23:38:00.001Z

Say hello Lewis...

2010-02-18T22:41:00.001Z

New sounds

2010-02-18T22:39:00.002Z

Losing Places (ISAN Remix)

2010-02-10T22:20:00.005Z

~~Download Losing Places (ISAN Remix)~~ Time's up!

Buy the 10" here.

Rehearsing / Gigs / Experiments

2010-01-20T17:44:00.005Z

Over the past few weeks we've been rehearsing hard (especially for us) with our amazing new drummer Lewis. We've been working on a few new songs too which we're hoping to air at some gigs soon. We're particularly pleased with one called 'New Buildings'. If you are an amazing promoter and want to book us for gig fun, bang an email to theleaflibrary@gmail.com.

We're waiting to hear the plan for our album 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions' and as soon as everything is nailed down we'll have news on here. These things always take longer than you think. Apparently.

In the meantime we're starting work on an experimental/lo-fi album. We'll post up some bits here when they're done.

Happy new year

2010-01-11T19:56:00.002Z

Walk of Leaf

2009-09-23T13:31:00.001+01:00

Scenes from Studio Klank

2009-09-23T13:11:00.006+01:00

studioklank.co.uk

No Memory, No Jones

2009-09-23T13:06:00.003+01:00

We had a photoshoot

2009-09-01T13:15:00.003+01:00

Bass, How Low Can You Go

2009-08-14T12:07:00.008+01:00

A real musician!

2009-08-13T11:41:00.002+01:00

'Working' in the studio

2009-08-13T11:32:00.003+01:00

Different Activities, Similar Diversions

2009-08-11T21:26:00.001+01:00

We've got an album planned for release in early 2010 called 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions', which is really rather exciting. We're finishing off recording and mixing it over the next couple of weeks at studioklank in Wood Green, London.