The Beat Surrender

The Levellers, does anybody remember them or even know they were still recording?

For those who don’t they were a raggle taggle crusty band who played a pleasingly political mixture of indie folk rock back in the day when I considered myself young enough to get away with wearing a pair of cherry red doc martens to gigs. More than that they were actually extremely successful at the time despite their anti establishment roots and ethics.

After the first two or three albums though things began to tail off for the band and up until recently I was unaware they were still together, so it was with some interest that I listened to Last Man Alive when it dropped through my door.

Got to hold my hands up and say, yes I did used to be a fan but had gone off them just as quickly as i’d got onto them, so it was with a degree of surprise that I actually found that both tracks on here are actually pretty good.

The single is one of the bands more riotous tracks, pounding drums and a frenzied guitar and vocal, while the b-side is a beautifully subdued track called When Love Runs Out Of Time.

The limited edition single (1,000 copies in the shops only folks) is out now and is taken from the album Truth And Lies , the track is more widely available on all major download sites.