TOM LEEB: Bedrock (POP,Rock): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Tom Leeb, a surname that sounds familiar to the generation born in the 1970s-1980s. While his father, Michel Leeb, is best known for his talents as a comedian, he also passed on a passion for music to his son, who is a fervent jazz fan and accomplished musician. This family artistic influence has undoubtedly nurtured Tom's polymorphous career path, as he searched for his own path between comedy and music for a long time before fully devoting himself to the cathartic art of music.

But is this multi-disciplinarity a hindrance to his musical legitimacy, or on the contrary, an asset to be exploited? His album “Bedrock” confidently answers this question. After having explored folk sounds on “Recollection” and “Silver Lining”, strongly inspired by his American experience, Tom Leeb offers here a synthesis of his influences (Clapton, Toto, Prince...). More electric, more audacious, “Bedrock” oscillates between melodic folk and accessible FM rock ('Somebody Else'), while at the same time indulging in some palpably emotional pop incursions ('Nobody Knows Me Like You').

Behind this apparent lightness, the album unfolds like an outlet where the artist delivers his doubts and hopes with disarming sincerity. “Bedrock” then becomes the musical foundation on which Tom lays down his raw emotions, without unnecessary artifice. The track 'This Love' is a perfect example: a gentle, introspective ballad where the fragility of the vocals and the delicacy of the arrangements testify to a deep need to let go. The sound, calibrated for the radio waves, reveals a meticulous production that could easily win over an Anglo-Saxon audience, fond of these effective melodies and catchy rhythms. In France, where the distribution channels for this style of music remain restricted, the task looks more complex. But “Bedrock” has undeniable assets at its disposal.

The art of composition, though classic, hits the nail on the head. Every note seems meticulously weighed and placed, whether it's the softness of a keyboard (as in 'Breakaway') or the energy of a Clapton-style guitar, oscillating between acoustic passages and electric solos (as in 'Home' or the conclusive, luminous 'You'll Be Alright'). Rhythm also plays an essential role, especially on 'Trouble', with its inspired groove reminiscent at times of Prince's feel.

But it's undoubtedly his voice that sets Tom Leeb apart. His warm, natural timbre carries the compositions with disconcerting ease, and his sincere interpretation makes every lyric vibrate with touching authenticity. With “Bedrock”, Tom Leeb signs an album which, beneath its classic and accessible trappings, reveals itself as a personal and liberating work. A sincere and endearing album, which deserves to cross the Atlantic as much as to find its place in French playlists. A nice surprise, and an artist to follow, without a doubt. - Official website

TOM LEEB

BEDROCK

AUTRE LABEL

POP