LEADER CHEETAH
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Leader Cheetah - Lotus Skies
You can never tell where the lightning will strike: the time and place that will produce a great band. The Band came from scattered little towns on the Canadian rock’n’roll circuit. The Triffids from Perth. Nirvana from Aberdeen, pop. 16,000.
Here is another one, Leader Cheetah, a band formed out of songs written in the Adelaide Hills. That’s where the band’s singer and guitarist Dan Crannitch and his drummer brother Joel grew up. That’s where, joined by guitarist Dan Pash and bassist Mark Harding, they rehearse still, surrounded by the bush and the seasons.
“It’s true, a lot of bands seem to come from out-of-the-way places, somewhere a bit off the track,’’ says Dan. “You grow up with no idea of scenes or caring about what’s hip. It’s all about finding your own taste in music, creating your own thing. You’re trying to be true to who you are.’’
That story is repeated often. These bands get a precious few years to find who they are, to dream and to create that voice that sets them apart, then send it out to the world to see if it soars. That’s working fine for Leader Cheetah, who won many new friends with 2009 debut album, The Sunspot Letters. They toured the country, played shows with fellow travelers like Elbow and Doves. Now their second album, Lotus Skies, confirms their place as one of the most exciting and distinctive bands to emerge in Australia in years.
As with most bands that are built to last, Leader Cheetah don’t sound like anyone else as much as themselves. No one can say for sure what accidents of history, genes and personality creates an original sound in a band, but Leader Cheetah have it. The result is an album like Lotus Skies, music with wide-open spaces and long horizons and with real emotional force.<
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“Some bands thrive on friction but we don’t,’’ says Dan Crannitch. “We know we’re lucky to have the symbiotic chemistry where we leave our egos at the door. It’s that kind of harmony we know produces our best work.’’
Part of that strength comes from the evolving song writing partnership between Dan and his brother.
“The initial idea for a number of songs on Lotus Skies came from Joel,’’ Dan explains. “He might have a few chords, part of a lyric, an idea for a melody, these little gems he brings out for me to refine. That’s been a revelation and it brings more colour to the sound on this album.’’
Lotus Skies was recorded in Sydney with producer Scott Horscroft (The Panics, Little Red, The Sleepy Jackson), whose method was all about capturing the essence of the song without clutter, highlighting Leader Cheetah’s neat balance of clarity and mystery along the way. And while the songs might be emotionally raw, a number of them – see Crawling Up a Landslide and Midnight Headlights -- have a positive thrust.
“The lyrics were written at a time when I was feeling that something was out of whack, emotionally and physically,’’ Dan Crannitch says. “I don’t know where that came from but it created this need to go deeper inside for these songs and all four of us felt that.’’
Leader Cheetah drew upon the varied talents of some good friends to take the songs deeper – with Holly Throsby’s vocals on anthemic Our Love, wild strings by Tom Spall on Midnight Headlights, and bold trumpet from Stewart Kirwan on the title track.
Like so many great albums, Lotus Skies is a testament to the power of the song, for the people creating them and for the people receiving them.
"People need to feel emotions, to connect with them through movies and songs and art in general,’’ Dan says. “For a songwriter, you have this thing inside you where you don’t feel right if you aren’t being creative. With this band we just feel like we’ve found the perfect fit, that the well is deep and isn’t going to dry up."
Leader Cheetah aren’t the only ones who are going to feel good about that when the rest of the world hears Lotus Skies.
General Info
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Genre: Country / Healing & EasyListening / Punk
Location Sturt valley, Un
Profile Views: 217028
Last Login: 11/13/2012
Member Since 3/19/2007
Website www.leadercheetah.com
Record Label Spunk!
Type of Label Indie
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Bio
The Sunspot Letters, Out in Australia & New Zealand. The Sunspot Letters.. is out through Spunk! / EMI. It's available in Australia and New Zealand on the iTunes Store and at all good record stores. Check back on this page for details about a Limited Edition Vinyl. "Adelaide's Leader Cheetah hit the ground running with their debut album, The Sunspot Letters. An enchanting mix of surf guitars and epic song craft; it's one of the most impressive and promising debuts we've heard in a while. Leader Cheetah churn out classic pop jams with twanging bass and awesome guitar licks." Feature Album, Triple J "Like many great albums, The Sunspot Letters (Spunk!) seems to operate in a space and time of its own, neither in nor out of the mainstream but built to last well beyond the usual allotted time for this year's big things ... One of the strongest Australian debut albums since Augie March's Sunset Studies." ....(read more).... Noel Mengel, Brisbane Courier Mail.. "A gorgeously layered folk rock experiment sitting half way between Neil Young and Interpol; thick and ambitious arrangement featuring a cascade of voices in the chorus and a heavy twang on the lead guitar, creating this intoxicating, moody but deeply melodic song that is entirely without peer in this week of singles. Singer Dan Crannitch has a voice full of dark poetry, and while the re-emergent seventies folk sound is fast becoming a trend, they have taken male harmonies in an amazing new direction." Beat Magazine, Single Of The Week 'Bloodlines'.. "...the love children of Neil Young and one or two of the Flying Burrito Brothers. That is to say they're completely exciting and the only Australian band we've heard to nail Americana..." Alicia Brodersen, NME.com -
Members
Mark Harding (bass/vox), Dan Crannitch (vox/guitar), Dan Pash (lead guitar/vox), Joel Crannitch (drums/vox) Management & Enquires contact: Matt Kennedy.. matthew@wemanage.com.au Bookings contact:.. Rob Giovannoni.. rob@selectmusic.com.au Press contact:.. Brooke Salisbury.. brooke@spunk.com.au -
Influences
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Sounds Like
Contact
Mark Harding (bass)
Dan Crannitch (vox/guitar)
Dan Pash (lead guitar/vox)
Joel Crannitch (drums)
Management & Enquires
Matt Kennedy (matthew@wemanage.com.au)
Bookings
Rob Giovannoni (rob@selectmusic.com.au)
Press
Brooke Salisbury (brooke@spunk.com.au)

Stream
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LEADER CHEETAH
Hey guys! Sorry haven't been very active on this for a while. The bands been on a bit of a break as we write and... http://t.co/XJj5Cydl
via Twitter
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LEADER CHEETAH
Walking along the beach at Byron bay. Working on a tune in my head.. I really can't complain http://t.co/zC25ksZA
via Twitter
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LEADER CHEETAH
The Tivoli in Bris, undoubtably one of the countries nicest big capacity venues.. So beautiful. On in an hour http://t.co/a7j52NXm
via Twitter
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LEADER CHEETAH
Keeps an eye out for the upcoming ROCKWIZ duets CD and DVD, it features some Blasko and Dan action!
via Twitter
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LEADER CHEETAH
Been quite a week, Perth was great as always.. Actually got some time to hang out and soak up some culture. Saw... http://t.co/Mz6GXzJy
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Shows & Events
No upcoming shows/events
Music
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8 Songs | Nov 29, 2009
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15 Songs | Dec 14, 2010
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5 Songs | Sep 21, 2008
Top Friends (7)
Comments
- Victoriana Gaye1 year ago
Great songs fella's.
- rob D2 years ago
Would love to get some pics of you guys Sunday night at jive, but have to try and contact them about their camera policy
- LEADER CHEETAH2 years ago
first single off the new album will be dropping soon... very soon...
- rob D2 years ago
Hey guys, all quiet on the western front, what are you all up to?
- LEADER CHEETAH2 years ago
check this out..... http://lnk.ms/HX0QR
xo JC - Alpine2 years ago
Can't wait to hear new stuff by you guys. Been listening to the LP all week, it's unreal.
- Dan Stepich2 years ago
Hi Leader Cheetah grass castles is cool dan stepich & the souls lightning!
- Geraldine Banks2 years ago
Hey guys how are you? When are you going to do some more gigs, in Melbs? Haven't heard anything from you in ages. Take care.
- the sea thieves2 years ago
Zac and Tom Spall(Cortez) are rockin the Wheaty on Sun 20th June with violin and singing saw in tow. It'd be swell to see ya, we just looove to have good looking people there! We're playing some new stuff off the upcoming record too. 4pm be the time... Zac oxox
- HAWKAI2 years ago
Hey There, We finally have a new track up 'Sound of Envy' drop by and have a listen and let us know what you think.













