Impossible to overrate, the legacy that sprouted from the tufts of Leeds’ punk scene in 1977 remains in rude, glorious health. The polemical Fear And Whiskey? recorded in the wake of the miners’ strike?is a fearsome blast of ass-whuppin’ country and rollicksome folk, nailing the quintessential Mekons sound and agit-rock ideal. Fitting 27 years onto two discs is tricky, but Heaven And Hell proves that no other British band has cast its net so successfully wide? from punk (“Where Were You?”) to world (“Brutal”) to reggae (“One Horse Dub”) and beyond via scathing political satire (“Empire Of The Senseless”). Includes Sally Timms’ ravishing turn on 1988’s “Ghosts Of American Astronauts”.
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