The Levellers
Collective/Live
On The Fiddle Recordings
Released in both audio and video formats the first thing you notice about this album is how comprehensive it is running at over an hour and a half. It’s a brave move to capture a live event pretty much as played let alone one that marks a departure from the norm by being acoustic. The essence of what has made The Levellers such an enduring act is highlighted in the new arrangements and brought out in sharp relief by the ‘collective’. The Hackney Empire acting as host will not go amiss to long term fans either as it’s a favourite place for the Brighton veterans to perform. While the tempo is sedate the power of the instruments and those always meaningful lyrics more than compensate. This is in some part a recital, one that creates soundscapes that will be most at home when you truly want to listen and chill. Mark Chadwick is an engaging host, so much so long term devotees will be reaching for those older videos to see how he has matured so well. The rest of the band play their part in equal measure too, as do the wider circle of participants. And you need to give the sound engineer a pat on the back for keeping that live experience intact without loss of quality. This is so much more than something just for the fans though, it’s an insight into the inner workings of The Levellers and their song craft. Of course if you are one of those older crusties then the big tunes are all there for you. This is a thoughtful and highly original record put out by people that still clearly have a real passion for what they do.
Review by Gary Trueman