On Friday, Canadian project LEATHERS released their long-awaited debut album, Ultraviolet. LEATHERS is the solo project of Shannon Hemmett, the keyboardist and backup singer for post-punk band, ACTORS. As LEATHERS, Shannon handles lead vocals, and the music takes a synthesizer-first approach, though guitars and drums appear, usually courtesy of her ACTORS bandmates.
We’ve already heard every song from Ultraviolet—they’ve been steadily released over the last few years as stand-alone singles or part of LEATHERS’ EPs. As a collection, Ultraviolet feels incredibly cohesive, a haunting and moody batch of songs that evoke longing and isolation. Shannon’s ethereal vocals remain the singular constant and complement the album’s atmospheric soundscapes. While her sounds draw inspiration from classic synthpop, Shannon infuses them with a modern, brooding sensibility that more closely resembles dreampop acts like Chromatics and Cocteau Twins.
Ultraviolet is a fascinating journey through your headphones from beginning to end. But the three tracks below, which are among my favorite songs on the album, offer a strong sample of what you can expect.
You can find Ultraviolet on Bandcamp and Spotify.
LEATHERS – “Fascination”
This sleek and seductive number injects a dose of beating energy into Ultraviolet’s nocturnal landscape. “Fascination” is built on sparkling synths and hypnotic rhythms that make it Ultraviolet’s best bet for dancefloors. Shannon delivers her vocals with icy cool allure, especially the spoken word bits: “Elevate… penetrate… fascinate.”
LEATHERS – “Runaway”
“Runaway” conjures hazy atmosphere out of bubbling synth riffs and dense layers of sound. There are many dark and distinctive storylines on Ultraviolet, but the cinematic scope of “Runaway” lends it the best narrative on the album. This song should soundtrack your next roadtrips. It even offers a helpful list of driving essentials: leather gloves, a switchblade knife, and Cherry Coke.
LEATHERS – “Day for Night”
Originally released nearly seven years ago, “Day for Night” might just be the oldest track on Ultraviolet, but it remains one of my favorite LEATHERS moments. Of all the songs on Ultraviolet, this dreamy ballad is most evocative of the romantic splendor of Chromatics. The track unfolds with delicate beauty as its languid pace and shimmering synths create a hypnotic atmosphere.
