Letters from the Underground - The Levellers Album Review

The Levellers

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Album Review

Hi-octane DIY debut. Look out!

Straight in at 24 (w/c Aug 18), Folk-Punksters the Levellers bounce back in ultra-confident mood on their own label, On The Fiddle.

Over the past 20 years, a key feature of their repertoire is the frenetic fiddle work of John Sevink, fused with punk tendencies, traditional English music and sloganeering rants, occasionally rolling out anthems such as One Way, 15 Years and What A Beautiful Day. None of their singles have made the Top Ten. The mix is quite heady and infectious, making them one of the UK's favourite festival bands. On stage they're simply mesmerising: I've seen them twice. If you want to check their on-stage credentials, check out the awesome Best Live: Headlights White Lines And Black Tar Rivers (1996).

Born in Brighton in 1988 by frontman Mark Chadwick and Jez Cunningham, they've developed this bohemian image to their advantage, though things haven't always been good between them and the music press. Another appealing factor is their ant-authoritarian reputation: so, nothing's changed here. So far, there's been two download only singles - A Life Less Ordinary, a Celtic fuelled romp, backed by the album's catchiest (and best) song, the thumping and raucous The Cholera Well. Then came the album's most commercial and slick Burn America Burn (I can just hear it a one of their gigs already - their new anthem). Sevink's fiddle must have exploded into flames. The third single, a hard copy as far as I'm aware, is the more subdued (by their sizzling standards) Before The End. In fact you'd never think it was them at all, as this is almost a (dare I say it) 'pop' song. Elsewhere, the real adrenalin rushes stem from pulsating Eyes Wide, the stomping happy-go-lucky blast of Heart Of The Country and effervescent Accidental Anarchist. Much the same power and passion can be found on the blood and thunder of Duty, with Sevink's bow going into overdrive. After the deceptive and quiet start, Fight Or Flight soon takes off as they dig deep to end their first album in three years.

File under: Back to basics. Good to see them back.

Elly Roberts