Leo Zero : The man genres forgot (or the man who forgot genres)

Leo Elstob’s apparently laid back, laconic style belies an infuriating creative drive, and notable talent, which is becoming ever more acknowledged. While all things edit and clever have been du rigeur for some time now, Leo has managed, under the LeoZero monicker, to plough a unique and fertile furrow which reflects his own diversity as much as the scope of the artists he has tackled, and is now increasingly asked to work with.

From a background post art-school which still embraces design work for a varied client list, his sensibilities have been inspired by a broad church of musical influences. Experience and collaboration places Leo in a Zelig-esque spot for some of the most exciting incarnations of the best in house music and beyond for a decade plus, from the seminal Soulsonic and Sundaysonic parties with partner in crime Stuart Patterson, through London’s all-star Faith crew to producing post prog stalwarts A Mountain of One.

Now front and centre for his remix and production work, Leo Zero seems blissfully, if not wilfully unaware of the constraints of genre and style. Reimagining indie heriones Bat for Lashes and Florence and the Machine aptly demonstrates one string to his (techy) bow, while the achingly beautiful remix of Bloc Party’s Ion Square points to a nuance and subtlety lacking (at least to my ears) from Kele’s solo work. Paul Weller as Northern epic again reveals his ability to find the very best in a track and transform it, as witnessed again with Bryan Ferry’s Alphaville. Message of Love, one of the most joyous boogie workouts you can imagine, and comfortably the best record Freddie Mercury never made, is one inspired by the cut and shut, despite a cover story of finding long-lost, never released classics from a hedonistic disco tear up in the 70s.

Striking for LeoZero is the lack of pretense in much of his work;  he is happy to take on genres seen by many as a dirty word, and there is a resolute sense of enjoyment, and dare we say it, fun in much of his work which will alienate the po-faced beard strokers of the world, but delight the even minded and non cloth-eared amongst the rest of the populace. Witness almost tongue in cheek glee at the likes of Boston meeting Gwen McCrae in ‘A Feeling’, or Empire of the Sun versus Stevie Wonder on ‘Jammin’ on a Dream’.

Indeed, his style may be best described as protoboogiediscoreggaefunkprogpunkpop; it seems that even this fails to do him justice, while remaining infinitely preferable to the inflated dj as artiste schtick which has abounded for much of the last decade. Elsewhere on the Dub Psychedlic series, Elstob stretches America’s epic Horse With No Name into a blissed out epic, further drugs-out Bowie and makes Coldplay rastacool; a skill in itself. Cred-pop also benefits from his delicate touch, with Lissie’s wonderful When I’m Alone the latest in a run of outstanding remixes which includes Everything Everything, and two markedly different takes on a Noisettes accapella. One, Don’t Upset the Rhythm, is titled for Leo’s occasional club night, Wigwam, which reflects both his influences, and his knack of playing diverse but complementary styles which seems infinitely more interesting and engaging than the perpetual thud heard from many a disc jockeys’ laptop and serrato across the country. Eighties stalwarts Prefab Sprout and Frankie Goes to Hollywood have also received a nip and tuck in the right places for the modern age.

Further reflecting his influences and inspirations, Leo continues his global domination by (very gradual) stealth with a new compilation on the ever- excellent Strut label, and arguably a logical progression from last year’s mix celebrating 30 years of Ze Records.  Disconnect , like Leo himself, embraces punk, afro, disco and many more, with both eyes on the open minded music fan, rather than one on the embittered rucksack wearer in the corner. Add Super Edits volume 1; 2 cds chock full of treats, and bristling with imagination from start to finish. Check the soundcloud, scour for the 12s, and buy the cds. To top that off, keep your ears peeled for Acid Life, as Leo goes squarely back to the 303 for a solo album troubling you soon. Welcome to the wonderful world of Leo Zero; invite your friends, they’ll thank you for it.

http://www.leozero.com/

Leo Zero Top Ten (by me, not him. subject to change/ vagaries of mood but relatively accurate at the mo. All remixes/ edits by Leo Zero).
Message of Love : Leo Zero feat. Freddie Mercury
Zarrylade : Eyes Above Your Head
Bloc Party : Ion Square
Everything Everything : Schoolin [Leo Zero Wigwam mix]
Lissie : When I’m Alone
Paul Weller : No Tears to Cry
Go Baby Go : Leo Zero [Noisettes Carnival Mash]
Horse With No Name : America [Dub Psychedelic Edit]
David Bowie : Moonage Daydream [Remix 1]
Bat for Lashes : Pearl’s Dream