For my final new album review of the year, I am looking at We Are Love by The Charlatans, released on 31st October.

This is the fourteenth album by the band, who grew to prominence during the “Madchester” scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Other groups who came up during this time include the Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses, who I discussed in the last review. I again discovered them from a Top Gear Anthems album years ago.

Although the Roses are known for groovy, dance-inflected tracks such as “Fools Gold,” much of their classic debut album consists of jangly guitar pop, inspired by 60s bands like The Byrds and The Beatles. Meanwhile, the Mondays are famous for a jagged funk and electronic-inspired sound, and the off-kilter lyrics and vocals of frontman Shaun Ryder.

The Charlatans are a bit of a mix of both. They are melodic like the Roses, but always have the groovy Madchester beat of the Mondays. The organ is also a key ingredient in their sound. I think a lot of their albums are quite patchy, but the compilation Forever: The Singles is fantastic.

*album cover

Unlike a lot of bands from that time, The Charlatans have survived through the decades, never breaking up and consistently releasing music. They have remained strong through tragedy, with the deaths of keyboardist Rob Collins in a traffic accident in 1996, and drummer Jon Brookes from a brain tumour in 2013.

Thus, it is interesting that the band decided to return to Rockfield studios for this record. This is where they made their 1997 album Tellin’ Stories, of which Collins died during its creation. Talking about the decision, frontman Tim Burgess said – “that was important as a way of honouring every member who’s played in the band. So we’re honouring ourselves, our past, feeling that energy and reincarnating it, doing something fresh, brand new.”

This choice doesn’t give the album a morose feel by any means, but as with their last two albums, there is a more reflective and mature feel. The guitars aren’t as distorted, and the vocals don’t have the same Liam Gallagher-esque sneer, possessing a more wistful quality. Nonetheless, the album still has the classic Madchester grooves and is fairly energetic and accessible.

My favourite tracks include “Deeper and Deeper,” with its signature dance beat and organ, and the title track. This has a very Johnny Marr style riff from guitarist Mark Collins, which is always a good thing for me. He even looks like a mix of Marr and Noel Gallagher. All the rockstars of that era must go to the same barbers…

*Collins on the right

Overall, this is a good album by the band. It features an organic sound, with no electronic beats or the like. I don’t know if I’d buy it, but there are no songs I would skip. So I guess it’s a 10/10?

See you next time, when the page will briefly turn into JW’s Christmas Music Musings…