Toxicpete.co.uk Album Review

Very very nice - something a bit different - something fresh and rewarding!! 'Body' by composer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/producer Leni Ward is something of a new-age experimental suite. It puts a new edge on electro/orchestral fusion as it weaves its magical aural tapestry of darkly tinged, ethereal moods crossed with bright, optimistic futurism - a masterpiece of modern experimentation into the atmospheric and awe inspiring!

Like a modern day Tubular Bells, 'Body' finds Leni Ward picking up on a theme and running with it and running and running until she can run no more. 'Body' is a beautiful piece of work that's experimental, atmospheric and innovative al la a youthful Mike Oldfield and yet it's also a work of modernistic vibrancy and poetic exploration al la Dido. However, Ward is actually unlike both of the aforementioned; Leni Ward is pretty much a one off and this totally home-made epic is quite stunning in every aspect. From concept right through to production and packaging Leni Ward has not missed a trick; 'Body' is beautifully conceived, stunningly performed and very professionally packaged.

Reading up on this fascinating musical all-rounder I get the feeling that Leni Ward is a somewhat private and perhaps reclusive but thoughtful being. I think she's quite opinionated and won't entertain fools gladly. This is one focussed and ambitious young lady with massive talent and a natural gift for expressive composition and understated performance. Leni Ward also seems to know exactly what she wants and where she wants to be and something tells me that she'll get there through hard-nosed dedication, constructive creativity and unbounded musical prowess. Leni Ward probably already has everything she needs to be massively successful and 'Body' suggests that Leni Ward is gonna be a force to contend with by any standard and at any level.

'Body' is an absolute beaut of a work - it's chilled, evocative, expressive and like nothing else I can think of. Suffice to say that Leni Ward has put together one hell of a package here that'll surely test her creativity when it comes time to do a follow up album. 'Body' is slick and seamless and can be hypnotically relaxing and calming just as well as it can be motivational and inspirational. A modern miracle of the digital musical age that feels like it has strength in depth and longevity written right through it. Bloody fantastic - and it's oh so good to hear someone really taking on-board what modern instrumentation and recording techniques are capable of doing and putting all that knowledge into a work as rewardingly creative as 'Body' - a real breath of fresh air - quite stunning!! Beautiful - one for the chill room, one for now, one for the future - 'Body' by Leni Ward is pretty damn exceptional!!