Levellers – Zeitgeist (1995)

I've never listened to a single thing by Levellers. I'm obviously aware of them, and picture them as crusty, hippy traveller types, based on people I know who like them, and festival bills I see them on.

But on a charity shop visit, it looked like someone had got rid of their Levellers collection, so as a taster, after a quick Wikipedia visit, I picked this up.

"English folk rock and anarcho-punk band", according to Wikipedia, still going strong 30 years after this album, so someone must like them. And after one listening, I'm finding the anarcho-punk side much more satisfying than the folk rock. There's a banging start with the anthemic hit single Hope Street, and the lively start continues with The Fear, a decent enough rocker, before a more leisurely acoustic start to Exodus. But if anything, the slight change of pace works at this point, and it's a really enjoyable song. Sadly, the same can't be said for the slower, turgid Maid Of The River, whose violin middle eight definitely puts it in the 'folk rock' part of the repertoire, and Saturday to Sunday is similarly average. Thankfully, a loud guitar thrash and some feedback wake this listener up for the fantastic 4am, a decent rock number. But it's back to the dull in Forgotten Ground, a brief interlude before the livelier Fantasy, back to form. PC Keen is a bit of a plodder (sorry!), followed by the obligatory drinking song, Just The One, a jolly, short romp. Haven't Made It is gentle, and pleasant without exciting, but there's a livelier couple of minutes in Leave This Town, before the very folky Men-An-Tol finishes the album unspectacularly.

It's a nice collection of songs, and I can see why the band are popular, especially live - this would provide a fine live set, especially if lubricated with a couple of pints. But there's nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary here, just folk-tinged rock music with an occasional taste of punk.

Link to full album

3* - a decent enough listen, better when they're louder and faster