The Leaf Lab

Holy Spring is the second solo album by Australian percussionist, drummer and composer Laurence Pike - an article of faith, expressing the sense that the ritual of performance can transcend the confines of style, structure and concept to connect with something universal. The name of the album is beautifully ambiguous, evoking a wellspring, but also rebirth, and more besides. It sounds constantly, effervescently fresh, just as it should when its creation was a series of surprises to its own creator. The listener, just like the musician, are privy to what Pike describes as the music simply playing itself.Improvisation has played a role throughout Pikes long and diverse career in music. Whether as part ofPVT, Triosk or Szun Waves, or collaborating with Liars, legendary jazz pianist Mike Nock, DD Dumbo orthe mighty Bill Callahan, he has long been a responsive musician for whom sensitive listening leads tospontaneous invention.

Craven Faults: Sidings [CD]

Warmduscher: Tainted Lunch [CD]

Snapped Ankles: Hard Times Furious Dancing [CD]

Temporal is the elegantly restrained new album by Canadian cellist/composer Julia Kent. Following the dissonance and tension of her previous album for Leaf, 2015's Asperities, Temporal is a meditation on the transitory and fragile nature of existence.

Korwar Sarathy: Kalak [CD]

Our saviours Danalogue The Conqueror, Betamax Killer (both Soccer96) and King Shabaka (Sons Of Kemet, The Ancestors) bestowed upon us their Mercury Prize shortlisted debut album Channel The Spirits on April 1st 2016CE. From simpler times, this was a prophetic document. A celebration. The beginning of the end. For those recent converts, here is Channel The Spirits (Special Edition). Here is the universe in a microcosm; the life-force distilled down to its raw essence: sex and dancing. Here is a package that includes the debut Prophecy EP from 2015CE. Here are three previously unheard tracks: the fabled Ancient Tapes.