CD Review: Levellers - Static on the airwaves

Written by Björn Butzen Wednesday, 04 July 2012 13:58

Artist: Levellers
Title: Static on the airwaves
Genre: Folk / Punk / Traditional
Release Date: 29th June 2012
Label: India / On The Fiddle Recordings

Album Review

Folk and Punk are the both elements the LEVELLERS combine since the year 1988 to their very own style of music. Now, with ‘Static on the Airwaves’ they released their 13th album. Probably according to that moment of liberality of that democratic party called ‘The Levellers’, those guys feel free to enweave traditional parts with modern elements of composing. Anyway, ‘Static on the Airwaves’ is a political statement as well: Not skimping on critique of capitalism and influenced or rather impressed by their journey to Greece, the LEVELLERS take the same line as they always did. The release is an image of the crisis in which a land can be stuck in. Liberty, equality and fraternalism are values, the LEVELLERS take care of. And they’re still angry throughout the years, because of this capitalistic system that oppresses those values, they believe in. But in all darkness lies hope… there’s a light at the end of a tunnel – and it’s not the light of a forthcoming train! ;) Those moments are the “thoughtful” ones on LEVELLERS´ new release…

‘Static of the Airwaves’ is far away from the typical mainstream lyrics – they’re not following those schemes often used in this business. Songs full of passion and compassion, sometimes of hatred and anger, but most of all of intelligence and intuition – that’s what the LEVELLERS offers to their audience! The combination of “rough” punk music and the consciousness of traditional musical elements that represents working class best, take effect of composing and arranging songs for ‘Static of the Airwaves’. It’s the way of balancing those elements that keeps up the fascination over the years. Although there’s nothing “new”, ‘Static on the Airwaves’ is a release that is definitely worth to buy, because those guys have a lot of things to tell!


Tracklist

01. Static On The Airwaves
02. We Are All Gunmen
03. Truth Is
04. After The Hurricane
05. Our Forgotten Towns
06. No Barriers
07. Alone In This Darkness
08. Raft Of The Medusa
09. Mutiny
10. Traveller
11. Second Life
12. The Recruiting Sergeant


Line-up

Jeremy Cunningham - Bass
Charlie Heather - Drums, Percussion
Mark Chadwick - Vocals, Guitar
Matt Savage - Keyboard, Backing Vocals
Jonathan Mark Sevink - Fiddle, Sequenzer
Simon Friend  - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Harmonica


Website

http://www.levellers.co.uk/ / http://www.myspace.com/levellers / http://www.facebook.com/levellersofficial


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10