THE CURSE OF COMPANY leo magnets joins a gang

The Curse of Company was created by whizzbang boffins in a secret underground laboratory. Scientists spliced DNA from several indie creatures, including a big dose of Dappled Cities, a dash of Theredsunband, a drop of ex-Expatriate and a sprinkling of Mr Bungle. Blended together, these ingredients produced a curious by-product: a concept album about the exploits of a mythical adventurer, one Leo Magnets Esquire.

Like all concept albums, Leo Magnets Joins A Gang has to be appreciated in its entirety. Cherry-picking on iTunes is futile. Songs drift in and out of focus in an epic procession of echoing instruments and disembodied voices. After repeated listens, it’s impossible to resist being drawn deeper and deeper into the fantasy world.

Lyrically, there are few firm narratives but plenty of recurring themes. Travelling, for example, crops up in many ways, be it seafaring on ‘Fleets in the Fog’ or climbing a tree on ‘The Kites of the Countries’. Through harmony, Sarah Kelly and Wiley Rennick bring key lyrics to life, such as the repeated refrains of “So when we undress your heart, no need for concern” (on ‘Homecoming’) and “I am one of a thousand falling leaves” (on ‘Side by Side’).

Rennick wrote and co-produced the album so, while the band’s DNA-mix is varied, the dominant gene is definitely that of his normal, full-time band. Imagine a ghost ship skippered by Dappled Cities, and you’ve got Leo Magnets Joins A Gang.


This record is proof that Hollywood has got it all wrong: letting mad scientists loose is a good thing.


Written by Andy McLean. Copyright reserved by the author.
Article first published in The Brag, Sydney. 2008.

Leo Magnets Joins A Gang is available through Universal.