When an album opens with a beat made entirely from iPhone text tones, you know you are about to become accustomed to a level of creativity that most bands are not capable of possessing. Since 2016, Leyya have treated fans to a wide array of indie-pop sounds, all emanating from an innate restlessness that sets them apart from their peers. On their new album, Half Asleep, they take their inventiveness to another level.
Leyya, who hail from Austria, have been presenting to the world their own unique spin on indie-pop for eight years now. Spanish Disco Deluxe, their debut, saw the duo explore a lo-fi sound, with watery synths and dance-worthy pop ditties. 2018, saw the release of, Sauna; a sophomore that expanded upon and refined their sound, strandling a line between twee-pop and psychedelic music. A whole six years have passed since Leyya released anything, but listening to the new offering, Half Asleep, it is obvious that the time away has only sharpened Sophie Lindinger’s and Marco Kleebauer’s creative vision.
This is no better shown than on the second track on the record: ‘Half Asleep’ sees both members share vocal duties, over a quietly sharp garage beat. Garage music has seen a resurgence of late, but it’s nice to hear it’s implementation in a new and refreshing way. ‘I Don’t Hug So Well’ sees a brief return to the band’s lo-fi roots; Lindinger’s voice is like velvet, as it slithers over the twinking synths and perfectly textural guitar. Personal highlight, ‘Sometimes You’re Lonely’, showcases Leyya’s mastery over glitchy samples and how to utilise them in a clean and concise way. A vocal sample repeats throughout, under a relatively minimal instrumental, really displaying the group’s ability to make pop music interesting. Another highlight is, ‘Ring In Silence’; one of the album’s dancier moments, sounding as if Belle & Sebastian were born upon a spaceship, is just, like the rest of the record, heaps of fun.
What stands out to me about this album is that it is a clear-cut portfolio in which Leyya lay out their sonic point of view. It is an album in celebration of music There is an enormous amount of synths all over the place, and yet they are so carefully distributed; there are heavier moments, but again, remain in constant flux; and this is what the band is so good at – the sounds never stick around long enough so that you may begin to believe you know what is coming next. Leyya are able to keep the listener on their toes without sacrificing what makes their musical minds tick.
Half Asleep is a triumphant return for Leyya. The six years between studio albums have obviously been spent refining their sound, falling in love with their craft, and having a lot of fun. It is so evident that Sophie Lindinger and Marco Kleebauer love what they make, and this is the kind of music that could not exist without being injected with a whole lot of devotion. Half Asleep is a wonderful record.
Written by Callum Foulds
