:: Leader Cheetah - The Sunspot Letters

Leader Cheetah

‘'The Sunspot Letters is in no short terms a minor epiphany. The debut album of Adelaide boys Leader Cheetah, it is seriously good on a level that hasn't been heard from Australian artists in a very long time. A great mix of 1970's nostalgia and surf tunes perfect for any day at the beach, the album sounds so well put together and thoughtful that you'd be forgiven for thinking the band had been singing for decades. Leader Cheetah is made up of two-thirds of the Pharaohs and headed by Dan Crannitch. But don't be fooled, it isn't anything like the Pharaohs with their 'we're just jamming’ vibe. While still very eclectic, Leader Cheetah peddles an all together more relaxed and soulful sound. “Alibi” kicks off the musical masterpieces with a country-esque guitar intro and very addictive melody. A folksy tune, it is an extremely fun and free spirited song and Dan‘s deep and grating vocals perfectly contrast the sunny instrumentals and male harmonies. “The Explorer” is also a great track. Fast-paced and reminiscent of rock legend Neil Young's tunes, this is a gorgeous mix of sorrow-filled vocals and a whining guitar melody. But the stand-out track has to be “Rosewater Smile.” Simply a beautiful song, it ambles its way through a twanging bass and female backing vocals that positively drip with emotion and pain. The feeling is really here in this epic track and it sweeps you up time after time. Epic is the perfect word to describe 'The Sunset Letters’. Leader Cheetah has produced what is a breathtakingly elegant and soulful album. Folksy and rocky, nostalgic and full of heart, it is Australian music at its best. So good in fact that it's hard to believe a bunch of young boys from Adelaide produced it.