Leo Abrahams - 'The Unrest Cure' (Mercury) Released 04/02/08

The Leo Abrahams story is one of highly accomplished session musician turned solo artist and one filled with chance meeting, after chance meeting. A brief stint at the Royal Academy, followed by a life changing call out of the blue from Imogen Heap's manager Mickey Modern that saw Abrahams catapulted into the big time and a full blown UK tour with Heap and the rest of her band. From there, what turned out to be an audition for Brian Eno in a second-hand guitar shop in Notting Hill and an introduction with Ed Harcourt thanks to Heap, Abrahams was left in an enviable position and a chance to mingle with the industry's musical elite.

'The Unrest Cure' marks Abrahams third attempt at producing a credible, classable album, which up to now, although certainly credible have remained unclassifiable, perhaps due to their structure and layering which remains complex to say the least. Opening with 'Fragile Mind' and the gentile vocals of Kari Kleiv, instantly a raining kaleidoscope of vibrant guitars hit's the airwaves, accompanied by a symphonic string arrangement that slots in to place thanks to Abrahams time spent at the Academy. '2000 Years From Now' a harmonic indie rock/ art rock mix is crammed to the heavens with a multitude of highly texturalised layers and the vocals of Bingo Gazingo who rants away with a tone steeped in eternal wisdom.

The soulfully rich bluesy/ hip hop mix of 'City Machine' sees guest vocals from KT Tunstall who seems to turn up everywhere nowadays whilst 'No Frame' featuring Brian Eno shows obvious associations in it's structure and instrumentation to Eno's days spent as keyboard and synth player to 70's glam rock/art rock band Roxy Music, ambient and idiosyncratic in every way.

All in all Abrahams compositions are beautifully constructed in every way with the kind of variety that keeps the listener perked up and wanting more.With contributions made from Tunstall, Eno and the like, Abrahams third album is unquestionably his best so far and one not to miss.