Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

This first album of Leigh Carriage originals recorded in Sydney with a number of various top-flight Sydney musicians, including bassist Jonathan Zwartz, drummer Hamish Stuart and guitarist Matt Smith as the foundation trio on all tracks. Carriage has a pure, clear voice in a style vaguely reminiscent of Jodi Mitchell. The title song with its lyrics of romantic nostalgia climbs into the upper register with long notes and features a sympathetic trumpet solo from Phil Slater who also ends the track with an appropriate feeling of softness. The intro to Breaking Point has an ominous feel as Matt McMahon's piano builds tension and the high register vocal opening adds to the ethereal atmosphere. Slaters's mysterioso trumpet intermingles with Carriage's wordless vocals in Refuge, a haunting theme that ends at a somewhat unexpected point on a high, breathy note. The mournful spirit is a suitable style for the subject matter of Lost Sons and Steve Russell contributes some thoughtfully substantial piano work, particularly in his solo. These are songs of melodic interest, delivered in slower tempos, sung very well and excellently arranged, and they're probably best heard in a reflective, pensive mood. -- John McBeath, The Australian, June 2013, 4.5 stars.

Mandarin Skyline is also available as trranscriptions for voice and piano. These beautiful songs are transcribed exactly as Leigh sings them, set to rich but simple piano accompaniments.

In a world where the popular song is adhering ever closer to a formula of repetitive harmonies, predictable structures and banal lyrics, it is extremely gratifying to discover Leigh's beautiful art-songs. She layers memorable melodies over rich harmonic movements, stretching the norms of structure to brilliantly support the profundity of the lyrics, yet all the while the songs remain deeply engaging. In these pages performers will find wonderful new repertoire with simple but beautiful piano accompaniments, students of songwriting will find endless inspiration and edification, and music lovers will find beautiful music to play.