Luke Leighfield – ‘New Season’ Review

 Article by: Marina Oliver

Luke Leighfield’s New Season weaves soulful piano with gentle vocals, ultimately forming a cohesive, hopeful album. Soft song introductions build  into crashing peaks of cymbals and guitar while Leighfield croons down-to-earth lyrics. The album addresses the difficult journey of finding meaning in life while maintaining optimism in its tone.

The album opener “Slow Down” introduces the thematic piano which is also heard heavily in “Garde Ta Foy.” These two tracks demonstrate New Season’s soft side, complete with powerful breakdowns signaled by driving drums and steady wailing guitar.

Namesake “New Season” follows with a misty beginning that clarifies into a relaxed mid-tempo track. Lyrically, the song contains reflective lyrics that detail a personal journey along with the building melody. Leighfield sings of a difficult year, but declares, “And I’m still here – it hasn’t killed me so it’s made me stronger.” The track exudes resilience and hope in the face of personal obstacles, and listeners will find themselves thinking about their own journeys as they relate to this song.

“Time,” “The One Thing” and “It’s You” share a theme of love, accented with piano and soaring string riffs. Through ballad-type expression, these three tracks explore the feelings and consequences of love.

Rounding out the album are songs exploring heavier facets of life: fear, meaning and the overall journey. “Patience” explores its title word, as Leighfield sings of learning lessons over the course of time, while the message of “Live for More” centers around the fine line between money and how it relates to happiness. The album closes with “Do Not Settle,” another song about the quality of life. “Do not settle for less than what you’re worth,” Leighfield sings softly before the song breaks into a powerful anthem of declaration. The listener is left with a feeling of empowerment as the album ends on a high note.

Overall, the album is hopeful without losing a certain smoldering subtlety. Leighfield has harnessed the power of instrumental and vocal quietness, which makes the album more meaningful than had it been loud or insistent. The medium fits the message in the case of New Seasons, as gentle optimism seeps from the reserved power of the album.

Overall rating: 8/10

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