the grandfathers of stoner rock
Leaf Hound
Who are these cats...?
Leaf Hound is just one of the dozens, if not hundreds, of bands that emerged from the UK’s “Heavy Blues” scene in the late 60’s and early 70’s, when fashion altered and became heavier. The majority of this group was once a more appropriately “bloozy” group called “The Black Cat Bones”, whose only record “Barbed Wire Sandwich” from 1970 most likely served as the inspiration for Spinal Tap’s “Shark Sandwich.” In addition to cross-references with members of Atomic Rooster, Cactus, Foghat & Free, and other sub-luminaries of the day, Leaf Hound’s specific section of the rock family tree also contains them. Later, singer Pete French would try out for Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, but he would fall short against fellow journeymen like John Lawton and Dave Coverdale.
...the sangraal of rock vinyl collectors
“Freelance Fiend” is a great way to start things off, with a funky cowbell and a scrungetastic Baltimoresque riff (we can never have too much cowbell, right?). “I’m gonna live my life like a freelance fiend / build all my castles on top of my dreams!” is what French yowls in his mushmouth macho manboy voice. Throughout the record, Mick Halls’ lead guitar work can be a little trebly-needly, and he’s definitely not Louis Dhambra.
The combination of heavy bass tones and low rhythm guitar set to a grind-o-matic machine riff, reminiscent of Sabbath, is what really sets this one apart. Stated differently, METAL! The bass-heavy track “Sad Road To The Sea” is driven by an acoustic guitar strumming in a manner reminiscent of The Who’s “The Seeker.”
“Stray” has a hauntingly similar sound to Sir Lord Baltimore’s “Woman Tamer” riff—that is, if Zep’s “Heartbreaker” were mixed together. Only massive, terrible drum fills (hey, Bill Ward!) and a short psychjazz bridge break up the relentless riff’s constant motion. More nirvana for early 70s metal.
The acoustic guitar and rumblin bass technique are used again in “With A Minute To Go“, along with some shimmery power chords that remind me of The Who’s “Naked Eye” this time. That is, until the song’s descending riff near the end, where French steals Bob Plant’s melody and cadence, “well the wind won’t blow and it really goes to show uh woah woah woah,” down to the umlauts.
Here are some pictures of the original vinyl pressing from 1971 on Decca.
And here some of the original German pressing released one year prior.
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Related acts: Stonewall, Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, T.2., Orang-Utan, Felt, Granicus, The Edgar Broughton Band, Bulbous Creation, Black Cat Bones, Big Brother Ernie Joseph, Bolder Damn, Dragonfly, Freedom, The Moving Sidewalks, Chico Magnetic Band, Jimmy Hendrix, Speed Glue & Shinki, Ellison, Fat, Mountain, Fraction