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LESLI SANDERS
The Haunting Truth Of My Self Portrait EP

Incorruption (2014)
Rating: 8.5/10

Lesli Sanders is the vocalist and bass guitarist for one of my favourite current rock ’n’ roll bands, The Prophets Of Addiction, but most of you will know him better through his days with glam gods Pretty Boy Floyd.

This solo release is something very different, however; a collection of what Sanders calls “honest songs” from “a dark place in my life”, and this is certainly reflected in what could be described as a bunch of evocative, emotional tunes.

The Haunting Truth Of My Self Portrait shows another side, one that is moodier and is more experimental than one would expect from Sanders’ main band. For this EP, Sanders plays nigh on everything except the occasional guitar solo, which are handled by Ty Macdonald (Fall From Grace, ex-The Prophets Of Addiction).

Now, if there’s one other artist I could compare Sanders’ solo work to, then it’s the mercurial Donnie Vie (ex-Enuff Z’Nuff). Opener ‘Self Portrait’ has that almost lazy drool in the vocal and is tinged with a darkly Gothic bass trundle, but just like Mr. Vie one feels that Sanders – once out of the sleaze / glam metal framework – is capable of putting his hand to any style of music. With ‘Self Portrait’, we get a slow-burning, almost surreal dream-like swirl of melancholy rounded off with a sullen piano. Those expecting a fizzing glam rock stomp should look elsewhere, because this is Sanders in pensive mode; brooding as much as that jangling guitar and nodding drum.

Next up is ‘Return The Smile’; a tear-jerking, piano-led ballad which is almost drunken in its vocal croon as Sanders’ despairingly yaps “My heart is empty, like this bottle in front of me… It’s cracked, it’s torn and it’s shattered – laying on its side in a one way, one way alleyway”. For all of the sullen notes though, there appears to be a glint of hope too as Sanders adds with conviction, “…Cos’ I will not weaken, I will not weaken… I refuse to fail cos’ I’m too strong”.

As ballads go, it feels like one of the most soul-searching, earnest and genuine I’ve heard in a long time; stripped back of all “hair metal” gimmicks, it trickles along with those melancholic keys which drip like teardrops. If anything, this heartfelt and sombre glimmer is akin to the sort of trundling, booze-soaked melody one would expect from Brit rockers Dogs D’Amour, but is so beautiful at its core.

In contrast, we have the more uplifting nod of ‘Nothing’s Free’, which comes complete with a distinctive 80s pop-edged feel. Again, it’s a rather stark Gothic swirl featuring a rainy rhythm section which includes that stabbing bass and rainy keyboard, all graced by Sanders’ cracked vocal yelp. Indeed, it’s Sanders’ forever fragile croon that makes the record so intriguing, enchanting and above all sincere.

As Sanders states in the press release, this an album far removed from his usual stance and one bereft of continuity in styles. And for further evidence of this variation we slip into the sullen tones of ‘Take Me Away’; seemingly downbeat, but always given that extra ray of hope by those uplifting lyrics which dismiss any chance of stormy skies. A whining guitar towards the last quarter remains the only metallic moment on the entire record as the sun bursts through the clouds, and Sanders promises that “when Sunday morning comes, there’ll be no more rainy songs”.

The EP closes with ‘My Religion’; another heartfelt and seemingly brief semi-ballad with tinkling keys and deft chugging guitar. Again, the lyrics touch the soul, especially when channelled through that nasally snarl. “You, you’re my religion, and it’s true that I do, I worship you”.

With The Haunting Truth Of My Self Portrait, Lesli Sanders may not have explored the usual metallic sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll themes we’ve become accustomed to, but for outright honesty and soul he’s constructed a set of messages to tug at the heartstrings.

Neil Arnold

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