Truth & Lies - album review

Levellers

The follow up to 2002's 'Green Blade Rising' is a very different beast to that Al Scott produced album. The challenge for the Levellers is to sell outside of their loyal fan base. Probably the biggest hurdle is to make the music press take notice; as they are obsessed with the latest fad, be it glum rock or the New York scene full of clones, the music rags are likely to ignore a band with the longevity of the Levs. The 'Observer Music Monthly' gave the album a single paragraph (that managed to get 'dog on a string' and 'special brew' into it), that only showed they hadn't bothered to listen to the album. They gave that Charlotte Church bint three whole pages mind.

Anyway, what of the album? Stylistically it falls somewhere between 'Hello Pig' and 'Mouth To Mouth'. Multilayered vocals and Matt Savage's keyboards lend it an emotional depth, the whole thing driven by Charlie Heathers drums well up in the mix. 'Truth & Lies' brings together all the things that make the Levellers unique, from fiddle and guitar driven songs that make you want to up sticks and ramble off across the land, right to songs composed of poignant lyrics married to upbeat music that make you look at the world a little differently. The one thing it doesn't do is rest on it's laurels, there's not one piece of padding here.

The opening track 'Last Man Alive' starts with a storming drum intro into guitars and then staccato bursts of fiddle over the electric piano, guaranteed to get a crowd leaping in the air. Track two 'Make You Happy', their first single off the album, has that delicious emotional twist the Levellers achieve with lyrics dripping with hope and longing woven through a melody that spirals up and down your spine. The production is spot on right through the album, where 'Hello Pig' sounded a little over-produced and contrived in places, this album gives each song it's own life whilst holding together as a whole.

'Confess' has a banjo buried in it somewhere under a grungy guitar, and the great lyric; 'There were devils bearing gifts and angels on the piss'... wonderful. The serious tone changes to upbeat, link arms and dance with 'For Us All', the direct 21st Century decendant of 'Far From Home' on 'Levelling The Land' (1992). Lots of vocal layers, the Beatles seem to be casting a spell over the whole thing, and they still find room for what sounds like a kazoo or two.

'Steel Knife' and 'Said And Done' are a great testament to the fact that the keyboard player, Matt Savage, is now an 'official' Leveller, being listed with the band rather than an acknowledgement. The electric piano weaves its way through dark lyrics, lifted to an upbeat sing-a-long by acoustic guitar and Mark Chadwicks glowing vocals. It's probably Mark and Simons vocals that make the whole album a very sunny affair, having a very rich sound, which is down to excellent mixing rather than throwing the kitchen sink at it. It's this cohesive sound and consistent quality that get it a five star rating. 'Truth & Lies' repays repeated listening with greater depths opening up each time

This summer will be the launch pad for this album, as with any Levellers album, the recording is just a beginning as the songs inevitably take on their own life when played live. These songs will soar in the open air at Gastonbury and Beautiful Days... And of course I mustn't forget to mention the album artwork by the Bass Player, Jeremy Cunningham. A shit coloured Uncle Sam with his fingers dripping with blood says it all really... good one Jeremy!

Iain Hazlewood