Reviewed by Helen Whitall

'V' (five) is the imaginatively titled fifth album from the British-born singer/songwriter, released on his own Got Got Need Records. Leighfield has become known for his strong and original lyrics and this album is no exception as he treats subjects as diverse as creativity, relationships, faith and the struggle to become a better person, very much in his own words. The production, from Jim Wirt, is spot on, allowing all the vocals and instrumentation to come through really clearly. The standout track is the opener "Begin Again", guitar and drums create a punchy, upbeat sound with a message about being real ("Just be honest, just be true/Just tell it like it is, just be you"). The violin at the end is a nice touch. Luke's vocals are a little on the shouty side with not much variation, but "When Will I Learn" is an exception, being a tender song with elegant piano touched with gentle orchestral sweeps building into soft, string-driven rock. It's an honest and raw performance with Luke putting real emotion into the song as he sings, "Love is not something you fall into." Gentler vocals again feature on the euphoric "Taking Time", a song about not wasting your creative gift. Although overall this is a very listenable album, I felt it was let down by one or two weaker tracks; "Fool For Love", with its overpowering stomping beat, I found hard to listen to without feeling as if someone was jumping on my head, and unusually for Leighfield it slips into cliche ("Baby do you feel love?"). However, overall this is a positive, energetic and creative collection of songs.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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