Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
You know deep in your heart, that sometimes neglected muscle which used to skip along as a child when something new came along, that an album must be good if you can at the end of it and search on line to see if the artist or band is playing anywhere near you, you might even curse your luck when it clashes with a date which has been written in stone for a year or two; deep down you know you wouldn’t be missed that much at a party in your honour as you make plans to see one of the most exciting bands of the year.
In The Leylines substantial, beautifully written and overwhelmingly superb debut album, Along The Old Straight Track, the sense of accomplishment is so touching, so innate and fearless that it cannot be perfectly described. It is as the hand of genius has taken the love child of The Levellers and Liverpool’s glorious Amsterdam and come up with a group dedicated to carrying on the fine tradition of the genre.
Energetic wit is potentially the finest vibe a band can possess, it carries lyrical repose and the flash of the fiddle with it, like a cooling wave washing over the suntanned skin of a person who has not sought shelter from the merciless sun for a few days, the relief of having a group carry on the fine traditions of political stance, of loyalty in the friendship trenches and infectious communication is to hear the soothing bark of liberation.
With songs such as the album opener, My Own Worst Enemy, the fantastic Sorry My Friends, You’ve Changed and For Queen and Country all knocking on the door of the instantly recognisable groove and musical furrow, The Leylines have offered up something truly unforgettable, an album in which stands as a debut as a piece of heart thumping, pulse driving expertise and the honour of hearing the Folk genre being graced with such blessed talent is to nod, book up train tickets to the nearest venue possible and say you were there; for the world scurries past by too quickly not to see musicians of unnerving swagger perform.
The Leylines Along The Old Straight Track is released on July 29th 2016.
Ian D. Hall