Follow the Lion

Follow the Lion are a Leeds (UK) based alternative rock band who formed in 2013, quickly gaining a strong following thanks to their energetic and infectious live sets.

We have been having an early listen to ‘The Candy and Gravity Motel’ — this will be out in June on Sound House Records:

‘Down The River’ rushes at you with sharp guitars and a tight & burning quality that brings joy to your heart.

The main vocal [Daniel Francis] is slightly down-spirited but the courage it retains deep in its heart gives you such a thrill.

But it’s those sparkling Eastern guitars [Richard Swann] that you will love a long time.

Title track ‘Candy & Gravity’ has some gentle waves of strummed chord and a wallowing pillow of soft guitar shapes.

The peace-filled waltzing pace takes you around the room. And the voice is warm and anxious.

‘Low’ has adroit drums and saucers of shiny pale-lighted guitar that tend to illuminate the background.

The voice overflows like a passionate angel called to dispose of a soul…

Words: @neilmach 2015 © - Neil Mach Rawramp.me

Follow the Lion are a Leeds-based alternative rock band. Formed in 2013, they consist of Daniel Francis on lead vocals and guitars, Richard Swann on lead guitar, Mase on bass, Paul Smith taking charge of keys and vocals, and Danny Jay Barnett on drums.

Quickly gaining a strong following thanks to their energetic and infectious live sets, the band have played a range of venues across the north-west of England and will be hitting the festival scene this summer, with appearances already confirmed at Live at Leeds, Tramlines and Long Division.

Follow The Lion, who are due to release their new EP ‘The Candy and Gravity Motel’ on 29th June, take their influences from a variety of sources including The Pixies, Massive Attack, and Nirvana to The Beatles, Tricky, UNKLE and King Crimson.

The EP was recorded at Chairworks Studio in Castleford and was produced by Steve Whitfield who has previously worked with The Cure and Bill Bruford and was mastered by Sufi Dub legend Celt Islam.

Lead single ‘Candy and Gravity’ was championed by Tom Robinson on his BBC 6 Music show and chosen as a featured band on Fresh on the Net. It also received airplay on BBC Introducing Leeds.

Tom said of the track “It’s hard to put your finger on what it is about that that makes it so much above the run of the mill.”

‘The Candy and Gravity Motel’ by Follow The Lion is available on 29th June. For more information and details of live dates visit their Facebook page. - Juliet Barrable - Essentially Pop

UK alternative rock band Follow the Lion has a sound which immediately feels so right on ears whilst offering something seemingly already familiar. The latter aspect though is deceptive and arises primarily from the fact that once infected by the band’s new EP, there is very little likely you will be putting it aside just as a passing fascination. Our experience is that the band and release becomes a heavily devoured incitement from first contact, becoming an old friend in no time at all and casting that suggestion of being something recognisable simply from constant play. Bottom-line though is that consisting of three provocatively bewitching tracks, the EP is a compelling and highly seductive slice of emotionally and skilfully tenacious rock ‘n’ roll from a band surely destined for big things.

Follow The Lion began in 2013 taking diverse influences from the likes of Pixies, Massive Attack, The Beatles, Nirvana, Tricky, and King Crimson into their emerging invention and sound. The Leeds band was soon lighting up the local live scene, subsequently venues across the north west of England, and this summer festivals like Live at Leeds and Long Division. Now the Steve Whitfield (The Cure, Bill Bruford) produced and Celt Islam mastered The Candy and Gravity Motel EP is poised to work on ears and appetites nationwide and from our findings there is little chance of escaping its or band’s lure.

The release opens with its title track, making a gentle entrance through a sparkling weave of guitar and keys within which a firm rhythmic coaxing from bassist Mase and drummer Danny Jay Barnett steps forward. It does not take long for a whisper of Black to nudge thoughts whilst the sonic shimmer of the track carries hints of bands like Bernaccia and Soundgarden. They are mere essences though, the song as it further opens up its contagious theatre of melodies and smouldering sonic temptation, evolving into a unique and sultry serenade but one with a snarl to its emotions and unstoppable virulence to its character. As rhythms get bolder and the sonic enterprise spicier, the glorious roar is a blaze of temptation and enthralment merging various strains of rock and creative expression.

Down By The River comes next and within its first breath offers a catchy welcoming of riffs with a low key jangle. It is swiftly in control of ears and attention, especially once the initially reserved beats link up with a brooding bassline. They spark a fiery embrace of guitar which in turn elevates the energy and vivacity of those rhythms. It is a captivating start given fresh energy and magnetism by the distinct tones of Daniel Francis, his voice expressive and evocative with potent variety to his delivery. His own guitar prowess provides a firm and enticing canvas for the rich and colourful enterprise of lead guitarist Richard Swann to further spark an already gripped imagination, his spicy tendrils captivating within the flowing caresses of Paul Smith’s keys and the darker rhythmic frame. The song is irresistible, feisty and infectious but with a thick weave of emotive drama to leave no stone unturned in thrilling the listener.

The voice of Francis, superbly backed by Smith, is like the music around it, a perpetual source of riveting incitement. He never bellows and forces the strong lyrical side of the songs upon the senses, yet seduces and provocatively roars with undiluted persuasion across every song, as shown by Low. Carrying a definite eighties air to its melodic and catchy stroll, like Colin Vearncombe meets Spandau Ballet in many ways, the closing song washes over the senses with poetic radiance though again there is a raw and dark edge to it which adds to the fullness and weight of the enthralling encounter.

There have already been many good things said about Follow The Lion and their debut EP, from Tom Robinson for one, and now lost in the arms of the spellbinding release it is easy to see why and say you too should make a reservation with The Candy and Gravity Motel.

The Candy and Gravity Motel is available from June 29th @ http://followthelion.bandcamp.com/album/the-candy-gravity-motel-ep

https://www.facebook.com/followthelionmusic https://twitter.com/followthelion

RingMaster 29/06/2015 - Ringmaster reviews

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Follow the Lion are a Leeds based alternative rock band who formed in 2013, quickly gaining a strong following thanks to their energetic and infectious live sets. The band have played a range of venues across the north west of England and will be hitting the festival scene this summer with appearances already confirmed at Live at Leeds, Tramlines and Long Division.

With influences ranging from Pixies, Massive Attack and Nirvana to The Beatles, Tricky, UNKLE and King Crimson, their debut EP ‘The Candy and Gravity Motel’ promises to be one of this year’s must hear records. The EP, recorded at Chairworks Studio in Castleford, was produced by Steve Whitfield who has previously worked with The Cure, Bill Bruford (YES/King Crimson) and was mastered by Sufi Dub legend Celt Islam - Mark Millar @ xsnoize.com

Based in Leeds, England, quintet Follow The Lion has been well received and is now looking to export, which explains the arrival of his first EP of three songs from home. Offering an alternative rock of the highest calibre, the group is already showing a certain maturity by offering finely crafted compositions. It is more than likely that the musicians are not at their first attempt in view of the work and sound good order. With a panel of influences claimed that runs from Massive Attack and Tricky to Nirvana and the Beatles, the melodies are ultra licked and well found. Follow The Lion arises worthy heir of the alternative rock scene of the 1990s, with titles that proportionally may occasionally evoke A Perfect Circle or more generally the slightly melancholic appearance (but not whiny) might be closer to the Twilight Singers.

Of course, all this may lack a little pellet. For as the titles are well crafted, very well interpreted, Daniel Francis has a beautiful voice, we already noticed a strong and convincing work on arrangements that offer genuine scope to securities whose structures are simple but pleasant soient- they (and they certainly are), these three titles, they portend a real potential, still lack a little something. This is where all the big potential problem: we want more right now! That said, useless to go too fast, it is after all only the first record of a group after all recent (formed in 2013).

If Follow The Lion does not present quite the qualities necessary to reveal its full potential, it is also due to the frustration of the outcome of this short EP. As long as the quintet manages to maintain this level of quality on a long format without repetition, it could climb readily among groups to follow closely.

It is in any case all the evil we wish them, even if it is difficult to predict the future time, with such a meager booty to listen. But make no mistake: if the wait begins right now, it is because these three titles in the immediate charm have what it takes to hang the listener without preambles or test session. Subsequently, fast! 7.5 / 10 - Edgecrusher 90 @ La Grosse Radio

An EP is like a business card to the large audience. Often, it gives an idea of ​​the motive of a band or artist, what direction they want to go. But no more or less than that. A business card is obviously very important for a group or artist, that is why such a gem with some care needs to be treated. Follow The Lion released earlier this year their debut EP on the market: The Candy & Gravity Motel. This tire is derived from Leeds, know the three songs on this EP to show different sides of themselves. The EP also makes clear that there are opportunities for growth. Our findings you read below:

Down By the River is a short track that you could describe as "done before". The rate increase, to a level that the eardrums not be attacked too much. All this with a warm and soothing voice in the background. Prompt so you get a bit of a dime a dozen sensation. What not to say that this is a bad number. The warm-hearted felt decor makes you dream to faraway places, and worries behind. But to say, all that is innovative, of course not. All in all it does to a wide audience to be addressed, namely the radio friendly decor provides for that.

Candy and Gravity allows for a slightly more adventurous - we would almost psychedelic side - hearing Follow The Lion. The focus is on the vocal decoration, but that does not really take the upper hand. Above all, it is mainly the cross-fertilization between instruments and voice to pull us over. With this song the band already proves not to want to pin on one specific genre. Also feel and hear that they're searching for the right sound. Compromise between 'radio friendly' and a still rather "experimental approach" we get the impression that we may store the previously mentioned critical approach.

Most haunting and in our opinion prettiest song on this EP is Low. More than ever, you hear herein Follow the Lion especially want to seduce, but also do not want to sound too obediently. Slightly psychedelic, even with a slightly howling guitar and the tempo even know what is going on. Comparisons with other bands in the indie genre emerge, but Follow The Lion prove it primarily to have a unique identity and hardly to be compared with others.

We can therefore conclude that Follow The Lion with Candy and Gravity Motel musical paths scanning and caught between addressing a very broad audience "from indie pop to fans slightly psychedelic music). With this card show why they do look at their cards, but they give as yet not completely exposed. The latter makes us look forward to the future. This approach may be especially so in any direction. But we secretly hope that they are the more experimental approach, with a slightly psychedelic approach of the last two numbers further develop into a fine album. This band has potential and growth opportunities. But above all of them prove to be very strong instrumentalists, surmounted by a voice that can captivate and bring the listener into a kind of peace of mind.

Listen to the album via Soundcloud. - Erik Vandamme

Follow The Lion have released their new EP, The Candy & Gravity Motel. Based in Leeds, the alt-rock, psychedelia five-piece first formed in 2013. - The Permanent Rain Press

Follow The Lion will be releasing a new EP ‘The Candy and Gravity Motel’ via Sound House Records on 29 June 2015.

Follow the Lion are a Leeds based alternative rock band who formed in 2013, quickly gaining a strong following thanks to their energetic and infectious live sets. The band have played a range of venues across the north west of England and will be hitting the festival scene this summer with appearances already confirmed at Live at Leeds, Tramlines and Long Division.

The EP’s single ‘Candy and Gravity’ was championed by Tom Robinson on his BBC 6 Music show, chosen as a featured band on Fresh on the Net and received airplay on BBC Introducing Leeds - Rock and Roll Creations

"I listen to a lot of music to put together the Mixtape perhaps 180 to 200 tracks a week and so things kind of tend to blend one into another… the sound coming out of the speakers you hear a lot of the same genres of things; and just when you think you have heard everything that three guitars and a set of drums can do, along comes a song like that that has a kind of integrity and authenticity about it. Beautiful way the vocal just kind of communicates heart to heart. It’s hard to put your finger on what it is about that that makes it so much above the run of the mill."
Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music - Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music