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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLEER, Thomas(b Thomas Wishart, Glasgow) New wave singer and keyboardist who did some things first that everybody else did later. First band in Scotland played Motown covers; he changed his name to a 'good aggressive punk-type name'. Moved to London, joined group Pressure who split '78; abandoned punk for European-infl. keyboard sounds (Can, Kraftwerk, etc); issued 'Private Plane' on own Oblique label (home recording with bass, drum machine, stylophone) to critical acclaim. First LP The Bridge with Robert Rental (also avant-garde keyboardist) on Industrial label: one side quirky electropop, second of ambient mood music with 'found sound' (TV, etc) and tape loops. '4 Movements' '81 was 12]im[ single on Cherry Red successfully mixing both styles, predating soul obsession of hip-hop with its cutting techniques, but 'Contradictions' '82 (2]multi[12]im[ set) was regarded as disappointing; after a further single he signed to Arista, bought a Fairlight and made album The Scale Of Ten '85, which proved paradoxically that restrictions can have their advantages; incl. classic single, insidious 'International', tale of heroin smuggling (lyric updated B side of first single with same title); elsewhere however was much seamless pop. Leer had sessioned successfully on The The's Soul Mining '83 (see Matt Johnson), employed several of the same musicians on his own album. He formed duo Act '87 with former Propaganda singer Claudia Br]auu[cken; he worked on jazz-influenced Plastic And Physical, she on solo Prima Donna; the duo's album was Laughter, Tears And Rage on Trevor Horn's ZTT label. CD Contradictions '93 on Cherry Red was a compilation of Leer's influential stuff. |