Thursday 24 May 2007

The Charlatans - Between 10th and 11th

Combining the retro-psychedelia of the Stone Roses with a large dose of The Doors' swirling keyboard-based sensibility, the Charlatans UK had an initially swift and painless rise to fame. Rocky times lay ahead however, including the mental illness of their bass player and the departure of their guitarist. Compounding these setbacks was the commercial disappointment of the otherwise outstanding Between 10th and 11th. Despite its lack of contemporary commercial success, this album contains the beginnings of a musical maturity and depth. More guitar-based than usual, Between 10th and 11th embraces a loose, jamming tradition not usually found in post '70s British pop, shown to greatest effect on "The End of Everything." The album has a harder edge than previous efforts, as if the band were trying to stay one step ahead of their demons. Unfortunately they'd soon suffer more setbacks when integral member and keyboard player Rob Collins would be arrested for armed robbery; a few years later he was killed driving drunk from a pub to the studio.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The Charlatans announce a last minute date to their summer schedule.

Headlining at NASS on the 7th of July in Somerset. www.nass07.com