MAGNET Magazine| Record Review


LITTLE WINGS
Light Green Leaves


Light Green Leaves is touted as three new recordings: The cassette, vinyl and CD versions each feature different takes of the same 12 songs, with variances in the music, lyrics and production. As I was only privy to the CD version, I’ll just take the band’s word for it. This Light Green Leaves is sparse folk with modern twists, its traditional instrumentation (guitar and vocals, mainly) refracted slightly through a quirky prism and bolstered by newfangled-yet-tasteful production techniques and earthy charm. It’s not hard to picture Little Wings ringleader Kyle Field sitting under a cluster of evergreens in the lush Pacific Northwest, plucking and strumming a guitar while a friend brush-taps the drums now and then and others harmonize and coo. The songs sway from whimsical folk ("Fall Flood") to relaxed pop ("Boom!") supported by soothing harmonies and languid bass lines. They even venture into Allman Brothers/CCR territory on "The Way I Deux." A major pleasure point here is the vocals—multi-tracked, high in the mix and well arranged. Wielding his laconic-yet-strong voice, Field sings about nature and other things that make you think of light peering through rain-kissed mornings, as you contemplate among soft green leaves. [K, www.krecs.com]