Leon Kage of Edinburgh reminds us that not all hearts are made of glass on their latest single “Golden Heart” (9.7)
It’s not every day that you hear a song as achingly beautiful as Golden Heart, the latest offering from Edinburgh’s Leon Kage. The single is so fully realized, in fact, that it includes a poignant and well designed cover, which speaks to the craftsmanship and professionalism that Leon Kage most certainly puts into their craft. Depicting a costume that is evocative of David Bowie and legendary German singer Klaus Nomi, Leon Kage takes things in a markedly different direction than Nomi or Bowie would have–and that’s a good thing.
The hauntingly beautiful vocal melody is the meat and potatoes of the meal that is Golden Heart, while the accompanying bass, piano and drums are a very well seasoned and surprisingly fresh and delicious salad. The somber and ethereal mood is further enhanced by luscious strings and xylophone. “Life is lie/to win or to die/these answers shall fly/these answers shall fly from lips of time,” Kage croons over the staccato stabs of the rich arrangement of musical instruments. Recalling the early works of Bright Eyes and the works of Philadelphia’s Shy Boyz, Kage is a budding music sensation.
Deeply moving and incredibly robust, Golden Heart would be an easy contender for album of the year, if it was a full album and not just a single.