Randolph’s Leap‘s hotly anticipated first album, The Curse of the Haunted Headphones, has been delivered via digital download and limited edition, good old-fashioned cassette.
This may strike some as strange but it fits well with the quirky nature of the band.
Having seen Randolph’s Leap several times the stripped back nature of the album comes as a bit of a surprise.
On opener ‘Sunday Morning’ frontman Adam Ross seems to be solo with just tape hiss for company for much of the song.
This lo-fi production runs through the whole album and gives it air of warmth and intimacy that fits with the nature of the songs and the fact that it was recorded on basic equipment in Ross’ flat.
‘On that Fateful Day’ is little more than vocals, woodblock and recorder, in fact other than Ross the rest of the eight piece band don’t feature much and at times the album does stray towards sounding like an Adam Ross solo album.
There are thoughtful lyrics and often witty observations in abundance throughout the album, Ross is surely one of the finest young songwriters in Scotland.
On ‘News’ Ross sings in a very resigned and matter of fact way about going insane but despite the serious tone in some of the songs the playful nature of the band always comes through and they don’t take themselves too seriously.
There are even tunes called ‘Level One’ and ‘Level Two’ that are based on computer game sound effects and put you in mind of playing the massive Gameboy’s that were around in about 1995.
‘Will to Shave’ is a tongue in cheek look at those with too long beards who seem to have lost the will to shave.
Randolph’s Leap create songs about love, hope and fun while never losing that quirky and unique edge that s helping to increase their popularity and makes them something genuinely fresh and interesting in the Scottish music scene.
Words: Ealasaid McAlister
