the Levellers' new album 'Letters From The Underground' is released today!
 

After almost four years the Levellers have recorded a new album set for release on August 11th through their own label ‘On The Fiddle’. With an ever changing music industry the Levellers are at the forefront of a now established DIY industry. They are the perfect role model for other bands trying to find their way in today’s music scene having released their own records, bought their own building/studio and started their own sell out festival, Beautiful Days. Although the band are lucky enough to have a loyal fanbase of at least 30,000 people, new fans are joining up every day having heard the band for the first time on MySpace or recently seen them on tour. Now the Levellers are ready to hit back again with this, their most exciting album in years.

Musically and lyrically the album conveys a passion, energy and conviction that shot the band to fame in their early years. The album has been produced by Sean Lakeman who the band met when touring with Sean’s brother, Seth Lakeman. “Letters from the Underground” was recorded in the Levellers own Metway studios in Brighton and mixed in New York by James Brown who has recently worked with NIN and Placebo.

The Levellers say the following of ‘Letters From The Underground’ - “We have written a consciously political record, not as a manifesto which is how people used to take our lyrics but as a reaction to apathy - something we’re all guilty of. The songs on the album are observations on topics including war, the media, government, betrayal, life choices and broken dreams.” Brighton based folk-punk band, the Levellers, are set to release their most politically resonant album in a decade just as the UK has woken up from the new Labour stupor and decided to vote Tory again…

Tracklisting

• The Cholera Well (about Darfur)
• Death Loves Youth (tackles the difficult topic of the death of a friend of the band)
• Eyes Wide (focuses on media manipulation)
• Before the End (features tales of having your heart broken)
• Burn America Burn (looks at America imploding from within using the Virginia Tech massacre as an example)
• Heart Of The Country (trying to find a place in today’s CCTV Britain, the Nanny State!)
• Behold a Pale Rider (about the bombings in London and the wider conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan)
• A Life Less Ordinary (goes back to travelling days and life choices made)
• Accidental Anarchist (explores the feeling of falling or being pushed off the edge of society)
• Duty (confronts what happens when after working all your life you are let down when you retire)
• Fight or Flight (challenges the cracks in the mental health system)

A limited edition digi-pack CD will be released with a bonus CD featuring new recordings, live recordings and a video. The basic album will also be available in addition to a limited number of copies on vinyl for those vinyl junkies. The album will also be available through all the usual outlets on download.

The Levellers have seen a renaissance with their live career in recent years. 2008 sees them airing the new songs and old favourites from their hit-rich back catalogue as they headline the following festivals this year - Cropredy, Cambridge, Guilfest, Larmer Tree, Glastonbury Leftfield, Stokes Bay, Music Port, Connect and their own Beautiful Days. In addition to these, the band are playing some special shows with Seth Lakeman at Arundel Castle, Bowood House, and Arley Hall.

After the festival season ends the Levellers are playing the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 27th September which will be followed by a full UK tour in November/December in support of the album.

15-17 Aug Beautiful Days Devon
22-Aug Arundel Castle West Sussex
30-Aug Connect Festival Scotland
05-Sep Cramerock Belgium
06-Sep Stormin' the Castle Co. Durham
12-Sep Bowood House Wiltshire
25-Sep Royal & Derngate Theatre Northampton
26-Sep Buxton Opera House Buxton
27-Sep Royal Albert Hall London
17-Oct Musicport East Yorkshire
3-Dec Hall for Cornwall TRURO
4-Dec Great Hall EXETER
5-Dec Engine Shed LINCOLN
6-Dec Academy MANCHESTER
7-Dec UEA NORWICH
9-Dec Academy BRISTOL
10-Dec Town Hall MIDDLESBROUGH
11-Dec Octagon SHEFFIELD
12-Dec Academy LEEDS
13-Dec Academy BIRMINGHAM
14-Dec Guildhall SOUTHAMPTON
16-Dec Academy OXFORD
17-Dec Ironworks INVERNESS
18-Dec ABC GLASGOW
19-Dec Academy DUBLIN

Watch Mark and Jeremy chat about the new album here:
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