The Breakdown
Levellers are a veritable UK institution with their brand of indie/folk/punk delivered with an enthralling passion and power. Coming together under the name Levellers Collective, the band has just released ‘Together All The Way’ – a deliciously vibrant collection that re-imagines past material and throws in a couple of shimmering new tracks.
Why collective? ‘Together All The Way’ finds Levellers joined by Hannah Miller and Ollie Austin from the Moulettes on cello, vocals and percussion. They’re also joined by Dan Donnelly marking his first official Levellers recording. Everything was recorded live, with the musicians playing through the songs until they had versions they were happy with.
With Sean Lakeman producing and Al Scott mixing – at their own Metway Studios in Brighton – Levellers Collective say:
It was truly a fun record to make, under the rigorous guidance of Sean. Sean’s a musician himself, always bringing ideas and get out of jail free suggestions when we got stuck. It’s a stripped back, raw iteration of the collective with deep folk leanings. As energetic as the first one but definitely different.
The acoustic delivery creates something that is quite divine – crystalline instruments that create a bright and effervescent sparkle from the opener, the classic track ‘The Game’, to the two brand new tracks ‘Man O’ War’ and ‘Sitting In The Social’.
The classic ‘Battle of the Beanfield’ coasts along a sharp effervescent bed of strings that sparks and fires with intensity: giving the storytelling a dynamism and celestial buzz.
‘Man O’ War’ is a poignant folk-infused track sailing on a bed of strings and guitar with layers of vocals. ‘Sitting In The Social’ has a primal beat with a passionate tale of existing on the social service. The chanting delivering is angry like a rollicking sea shanty: explosive and thundering. This is classic Levellers with its passionate anger and a fitting finale to the album.
‘Together All The Way’ is a stirring and rousing collection of gems – the acoustic delivery scythes its way through the ether adding a delicious immediacy and power to the passionate tales filled with humanity and compassion that typify the Levellers.
‘Together All The Way’ is out now and available to download and stream here.
The album release coincides with the band’s current acoustic tour of theatres and venues around the country, featuring special guests Moulettes (Duo), Wilswood Buoys and Jess Silk. Tickets are available here.
And 2023 is an extra special year for the Levellers as not only do they celebrate 35 years of being a band, but it will also be the 20th Anniversary of their hugely acclaimed Beautiful Days Festival, one of the biggest independent music festivals in the UK.
Tour details are as follows:
March 2023
Sat 11 TRURO Hall For Cornwall
Mon 13 BARNSTAPLE Queen’s Theatre
Tue 14 YEOVIL Westlands
Wed 15 HARROGATE Royal Hall
Thu 16 HULL City Hall
Fri 17 NEWCASTLE Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Sat 18 BUXTON Opera House
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