The Leg

The Leg
Origin Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres Indie rock, alternative rock, lo-fi
Years active 2006 (2006)–present
Labels SL, Song, by Toad
Associated acts Khaya, Desc, Withered Hand, Meursault, Paul Vickers
Website www.ihatetheleg.co.uk
Members
  • Daniel Mutch
  • Pete Harvey
  • Alun Thomas

The Leg are an alternative rock band based in Edinburgh made up by Daniel Mutch (Vocals, Guitar), Pete Harvey (Cello, Piano) and Alun Thomas (Drums). The band formed from members of Khaya and Desc, following the break-up of the latter in 2005. The band have released four albums, first with SL Records and then Song, By Toad Records.

Biography

The Leg were formed in 2006 by Dan Mutch, Pete Harvey and Alun Thomas. Mutch and Harvey began playing together as members of Khaya, an acclaimed Edinburgh band who released a number of albums in the late 1990s and early 2000s, along with Greg Dodgson, John Mackie, Caroline Evens and Richie Anderson.[1] The band gained national attention after recording two 'Peel Sessions' with legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel in 1999 and 2000.[2]

Following the demise of Khaya in 2001, Mutch, Harvey and Mackie formed Desc, being joined by Alun Thomas and Helena MacGlip.[3] Desc released one album, Up Here In The Heat, before disbanding in 2005.[3] After the break-up of Desc, Mutch, Harvey and Thomas continued as The Leg.[4]

Music

Their first release was '8 Songs by the Leg: A musical tribute to the Forest of Dean', self-released in 2006. The record received little but positive attention in the media, and was described as 'mildly unhinged, but truly original' by The List.[5]

Their full-length debut album, What Happened to the Shrunken Tina Turner followed in 2009, released by SL Records. The album was reissued by Song, by Toad Records in 2013 as part of the label's fifth anniversary box-set release.[6]

In 2012 The Leg released An Eagle to Saturn with Edinburgh independent label Song, by Toad Records. The album received strong positive reviews in publications such as The Skinny and The Herald.[7][8] The album was described as 'staggeringly brilliant' by The Scotsman, who likened the band to artists such as Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Captain Beefheart.[9] The album was named as number 15 in The Herald's top 50 Scottish albums of 2012.[10]

Follow up album Oozing a Crepuscular Light was released in 2013. The album again received positive reviews from The List and The Herald.[11][12] The album was named number 35 in The Herald's best Scottish albums of 2013.[13]

Side Projects

Alongside their work as The Leg, the band are involved in a number of other projects. They have released three albums with Edinburgh musician Paul Vickers, under the name Paul Vickers & The Leg.

Pete Harvey has played cello with a number of artists, including Meursault.[14] Alun Thomas also plays drums with Withered Hand.[15]

Discography

The Leg

  • 8 Songs by the Leg (2006)
  • What Happened to the Shrunken Tina Turner? (2009/2013)
  • An Eagle to Saturn (2012)
  • Oozing a Crepuscular Light (2013)

Paul Vickers & The Leg

  • Tropical Favourites (2008)
  • Itchy Grumble (2010)
  • The Greengrocer (2014)


References

  1. ↑ "Khaya biography". SL Records. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Khaya Peel Sessions". John Peel Sessions. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Desc biography". SL Records. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "The Leg biography". Song, by Toad Records. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Review: 8 songs by The Leg". The List. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Review: Five Years/Five Records, Song, by Toad". The Scotsman. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Leg - An Eagle to Saturn". The Skinny. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Morrison, Alan. "Recent Scottish CD releases". The Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Albums to look out for in 2012: The Leg". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "2012 review: Top 50 albums of the year". The Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Cooper, Neil. "The Leg - Oozing A Crepuscular Light". The List. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Morrison, Alan. "The Leg: Oozing A Crepuscular Light (Song, By Toad)". The Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Morrison, Alan. "The Scottish albums of 2013". The Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Meursault interview". Nicola Meighan. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Withered Hand interview". Is this music?. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
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