The Pleasure of Ruins
NZ based singer-songwriter Richard Leschen draws on the deep roots music of his southern US heritage – country, bluegrass, blues – to craft intricate, fascinating songs with a wide geographical sweep, and a wide historical one. – Nick Bollinger, Radio New Zealand
Intimate and ambient, the real richness comes from the brilliant lyrics; very melodic, engaging and genuinely far-reaching with significant depth, this is low key brilliance. – Ania Glowacz, NZ Musician
New Sun Rising
His eye for detail shines with interesting and intelligent lyrics that draw from his American history and present life as an NZ resident. A good listening album full of life stories and mixed landscapes, a good player that takes simple technique and opens your inner ear to what’s being sung. – Dave Gideon, NZ Musican
Many of Leschen’s songs are timeless … Along the way Leschen reminds us of the poetry of life – throwing in references to Kafka and Greek Mythology as well as numerous striking images of his own. Dreams do, in the end, come true: people do head out of their mediocre lives and into the sunset of their dreams. – Renee Liang, poet and author of Chinglish
A wonderful guitar picker, who sings a set of Dylan-like lyrics, heavily influenced by his American cowboy background. Maybe he can’t ride a horse, but he certainly takes you there with his songs. – Roger Giles, President of Devonport Folk Music Club & Auckland Folk Festival Inc
Leschen’s use of language, metaphors and imagery is very much in the mould of Dylan, but he is no imitator and is quite original in his stringing of words together creating wonderful images in the mind of the listener. His playing of the different styles is just impeccable and I would place him as one of best guitarists in New Zealand. – Rudy Sunde, Maritime Crew
Black Horses
A strong set of songs, stormy folk music based around deft picking and strumming. His lyrics are worldly and transcend the sadly usual cliches that seem to come with the territory. – Simon Sweetman, NZ Musican
Comfortable backporch music best suited at the end of a hard day and a cold beer. His easy going style belie a knack for literary detail and story telling that’s way above the typical folk singer. – Calvin Powers, Taproot Radio
Leschen is, on evidence of the album, a fine guitarist … in fact, I would go as far as to say he is a very fine guitarist. The lyrics are pertinant and the playing flawless. – Keith Redgrave, Americana UK
OTAGOLANDS 