Lawrence & Leigh Release Odyssey Volume III: Hills and Masts on March 7th

Lawrence & Leigh are not the sort of artists who wait for inspiration to come before producing great work. The duo spend their time, thought and energy creating and perfecting their music. The result of this hard work is beautiful and bold, with a refreshing originality and an infectious sense of style. The duo’s first major undertaking, entitled Odyssey, is a set of three EPs, each with its own distinct sound and character. The first release, which has been a year in the making, is in fact the final chapter, Volume III: Hills and Masts. The EP will be released on March 7th, 2011.

Download "Chelsea Nights"

Like some kind of wondrous blend of Dirty Projectors and the haunting richness of Fleet Foxes, the female/male band of Andrew Kalleen and Kristin Stokes fill their music with dazzling styles of pop-- colored with a dream-like nostalgia, and realized to their fullest potential in the studio. With dense harmonies and elaborate song structures, the time spent meticulously fleshing out every detail has paid off. Lawrence and Leigh have created an album that fluidly progresses from each passing sound with impressive dynamics and energy. All the songs are absolutely individuals, with their own form, color, and intention. Yet the album remains cohesive through a melancholy yet optimistic, tone, and a sense that each song takes you on a ride somewhere you had never anticipated arriving.

Take for instance, the varying moods of the song “Glow.” What starts out as an explorative soliloquy over harmonically lush vocal overlays, soon takes a turn to a base heavy pop anthem, which then again evolves into a driving jazz piano with brushed drums, setting the scene for a 1960’s noir-like chase. You feel immediately transported through each section, becoming more engulfed with each turn of phrase.

Whether the music takes shape from Kalleen’s openhearted words or the duo’s skill at crafting gripping stories from the remains of variously dissimilar sounds, strong songwriting is always at the core. The band states, “We want everything that we put out into the world to have a point of view and style. Time, thought, and energy go into everything we do.” The invigorating experience their music embodies is surely enough to dazzle even the tamest listener. In the end, it’s clear the fresh and creatively intuitive duo, Lawrence & Leigh are ready to turn heads with their latest release.