Kiran Leonard

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When you hear Kiran Leonard’s “Dear Lincoln” for the first time – all Elephant 6 collective, Daniel Johnston, psych folk, lo-fi and kind of shambolic – you’re left wondering what underground, cultish US act is responsible for such brilliance. So, to find out it was written when Leonard – a native of Oldham, Lancs. – was just 14 years old is something of a shock to the system, and enough to send anyone older into a jealous rage. And it doesn’t stop there; at only 18, Leonard’s discography is swelling, including impressive debut Bowler Hat Soup.

Sixteen sprawling tracks long and fifty-odd minutes of unhinged brilliance, it’s quite a way to introduce yourself to the world. Inspired by the Mothers of Invention, Sufjan Stevens, Penderecki, Albert Ayler, Don Cabellero, Godspeed and The Beach Boys it’s almost too much to get a grip of on just one listen. From the woozy country of “Whisky Bath”, through the gorgeous mandolin and keys wheeze of “Port Aine” to the sound collage of “There’s No Future In Us” and the tear-stained organ closer “A Purpose’” there’s so much depth (before we even get to Leonard’s fascinating vocal yelps and stream-of-consciousness lyrics) and variety it’s verging on the unbelievable that it was written before he was even out of school.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/28/kiran-leonard-new-band