Listen to Kingmaker

Dead Leaf Echo. The words conjure rich literature. Nabokov. Conjured images of drugged passions fading into nihilistic apprehension An Art Project blossomed in 2006, DLE has matured rapidly since it’s birth now unveiling their unique style of Nouveau Wave.

DLE has released numerous EP’s, Singles and Remixes in addition to their noir film videos and heavy tour schedule prompting Time Out NY to call them “Some of the best live music in the city”. They toured the US last fall and played SXSW on bills with The Wedding Present, Japanther, A Place to Bury Strangers and Trail Of the Dead. In 2010 they played sold out shows opening for the reunited Chapterhouse and Ulrich Schnauss.

Dead Leaf Echo’s previous work with Ulrich Schnauss on their Pale Fire EP has now caught the attention of famed 4AD producer John Fryer (Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil) who has mixed their debut LP “Thought and Language” to be released early this year. A concept album that follows the conception and birth of a child and his discovery of thought and language.

By incorporating elements of ambient, baroque, dream-pop, shoegaze, new wave, and goth, and crafting every aspect of their sound and vision, they remain one of the few left willing to work on high-art as concept. Chiming guitars in twin stereo reverbs with shimmering vocals and silky basslines. Dead Leaf Echo runs the gamut of what is now possible within the contemporary underground by running at the forefront of the indie NYC music scene

“The band creates a blossoming world where Cocteau Twins and My Blood Valentine influences swirl and mix with Vladimir Nabokov and Ernest Hemingway love letters." -- The Deli Magazine

"'Kingmaker' is the musical equivalent to staring aimlessly into the middle distance in a semi-lucid state, with the wall of fuzz gently enveloping you. It's more catatonic than Catatonia ever were and its hazy glow is pure musical fantasy land, like bouncing around on the clouds and other such nonsense. You get the idea. It's wonderful.” - The Sound Of Confusion

“[Kingmaker] is drenched in reverb, with new wave leanings, sugary dream pop melodies and a few squealing shoegaze dives to mix things up! ‘Kingmaker’ bares all the qualities of the genre’s golden era but with a modern approach that pushes you headlong into a dream pop daydream.” -- Sounds Better With Reverb

"Some of the best live music in the city" --Time Out NY

"Words like ethereal, atmospheric and dreamy all come to mind after a spin of Dead Leaf Echo's Truth, and while all these descriptions are apt (and have been used repeatedly in other Dead Leaf Echo reviews), it's safe to say that the band could similarly be described as heavy, raucous - or simply, loud-as-fuck." -- H Magazine