Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

To start off Leaf’s involvement in this year’s Sound City with a band that isn’t that well known from across the Channel could be seen as a calculated risk, one that happily and wonderfully had those rare qualities of a surprise that was both exhilarating and fun to explore for the first time. The group, the very enjoyable Lolito, were not fazed by the looks on the faces of those attending the first band of the evening, the amazing bombshell that took people all of five minutes to get over and by the end of the first song, the smiles said it all.

Like the coming of French Heavy Metal that has started to permeate across the sliver of sea that separates the two countries in bands such as Eyrn Non Dae, French Indie Rock has also started to migrate northwards and even if it has by-passed the south of England for a while, as always Liverpool embraces a new musical outfit with open arms, even if others may find them quirky, the music fans of Liverpool will see surely see Lolito as endearing and a great band to catch live.

The foursome wasted little time in explaining the ideas behind their music, quite rightly so as the air of mystery more than spoke volumes, but Flo, Annette, Mathias and Michel gave a great account of themselves on the stage at Leaf and the music was just terrific. With tracks such Annette’s Skirt, the catchy Hold Me, Kiss Me, Les Filles Et Les Gars, Lolito and Bastrd in their set-list, the thrill of the music was as heady as the finest bottle of wine in the best Parisian restaurant being given away for the price of a smile. A cracking set delivered by a great French band, a surprise perhaps but as always some surprises are meant to put a smile on your face and linger long in the memory.

A fantastic addition and well in keeping with the great music making its way across the Channel. There is a new band in town and they are just sublime.

Ian D. Hall