Leo Abrahams - The Grape And The Grain

Rumour has it that Brian Eno strolled into a record store and caught sight of Leo Abrahams having a strum on a new guitar - and lamented The Edge’s comparatively oafish axemanship. Rumours such as these are often a distraction that smothers new artists in a spurious veneer of credibility, but Leo Abrahams’ talent is difficult to dismiss. Following his debut Honeytrap, The Grape and The Grain represents a continuation of Abrahams' inclination towards an organic sound. Ends Meet is a good example of the ethos, with its propulsive beat and unorthodox scratching and rubbing of guitar strings. Meanwhile, Spring Snow gently pulls you into its softly spoken juxtaposition of hope and tumult. The sense of space in the song arrangements highlights Abrahams’ crucial quality as a guitarist, so we should be quietly thankful that he didn’t come across Phil Spector in that record shop. [Ray Philp]