Who We Touch: Special Edition [CD]

I followed The Charlatans from the beginning back in the Some Friendly and Between 10th and 11th (which I actually always thought a superior album to the debut) days. I bought the majority of the albums that came out after but, other than the odd (Just When You're Thinking Things Over etc.) track or album none of them ever featured in my repeat list. Partly, I should imagine, because I didn't give them enough listens and was elsewhere with my aural pleasures.

So, a positive review of this new album (Who We Touch) in the press led me to think I should purchase it just to keep the collection going. I was half expecting it to be another one that sat on the shelf and didn't get my attention. And then track 2 came on (My Foolish Pride) and I sat up and thought "heh, this is good, I like this" and then that led to track 3 (Your Pure Soul) and I was then hooked. I've now given the album a good few listens and it's a blinding album. Very melodic and very accessible from the outset. It really has got some cracking tunes on it and I would suggest you take the plunge if you're not entirely sure that yet another Charlatans album is needed in your collection. This one is. Good work guys and welcome back (to me at least).

This is a another great Album from The Charlatans. You can read more in depth reviews in other music media, but from my personal point of view (and as a long time fan) I would definatley rate this as one of thier best, and is again another change of musical direction from the last album.

Stand out tracks for me on first listen were "my foolsih pride", "trust in desire", and the lead single "love is ending". However, as with most other Charlatns songs the rest are still very good and grow on you with repeated listening. The bonus edition's special CD also contains alternate mixes, early versions and four cracking songs that were "cut" from the album itself, and of these I would say that "who we touch don't mind" is the best. In fact it I personally found it to be one of the better tracks on the 2cd set.

All In all this is a great album by a band that still sound fresh after 20 years and 11 albums. For the extras that come with the 2cd version, along with the nice layout of the gatefold case, I would suggest paying the £2 difference in price and get that.

Being a long time fan of The Charlatans, and as much as I've really enjoyed (and still enjoy) their last few albums; 'Up At The Lake' from 2004, 'Simpatico' from 2006 and 'You Cross My Path' from 2008, some critics have rightly or wrongly argued that the bands output of late hasn't been as consistent as a much of their earlier work. Personally, I'm largely in disagreement with that school of thought and have always greatly anticipated and been kept entertained by their new offerings, whilst I love seeing them live as they always put on a truly accomplished show. Yes, I suppose there has been the odd MOR moment here and there (check out the middle part of Simpatico), but this is a band who have never been afraid to change their direction and experiment with something a bit different, usually to more success than not. Just check out 'Cry Yourself To Sleep', 'Blackened Blue Eyes' and 'The Misbegotten', to name but a few of the many stand-out tracks from the last three albums.

They can never be accused of having made the same record twice, and eleven albums in (which in this day and age is a feat in itself, notwithstanding the huge amount of bad luck they've have had over the years), the fact that they've come this far is testament to their credentials as not only survivors (which is now an over-used term), but as sometime (whilst never being pigeon-holed as) flag-carriers for a fading mod(just look at Martin Blunt)/Brit-rock/indie scene which, let's face it, to some extent has imploded and become far too 'cool and individual', to the point that with the new crop of mainstream bands, who just seem to do what their label tells them will sell, is not really so 'cool' or 'individual' anymore (although we all love to recollect how it once was, or maybe that's just my age showing!). Of the older crop, most who've been around for over twenty years have the odd forgivable off-moment, but many, unlike The Charlatans, simply seem to lose sight of what it was that made them great in the first place and just carry on for the hell of it whilst trying to be like the new crop.

Upon listening to the new album; 'Who We Touch', my first thought was "wow, for The Charlatans, this is certainly a bit unusual and different". Aside from the first track; 'Love Is Ending', which opens with a loud jamming crescendo and an early eighties punk-riff, before taking its shape in the form of a Joy Division-esque bass hook, the New Order influences that were evident in 'You Cross My Path' have all but gone, to be replaced by more of a definite neo-psychedelic/punkish sound that runs as a thread throughout the record. The next track, which was the albums second single; 'My Foolish Pride', moves the band in to the kind of territory that they really excel at these days. A soft but steady country-tinged foot-tapper and obviously radio 2-friendly song, which in the typical style of many of this bands earlier tracks is made up of three songs from within that continue to build; the opening verse to set the scene, the middle verse that leads up to the chorus, and then the chorus itself, which in this is case is catchy as anything, full of Beach Boys/Eagles vocal harmonies that simply leaves you wanting more.

As the album progresses, 'Your Pure Soul' is an optimistic, epic gem, whilst some of the tracks have a distinctly darker edge to them ('Smash The System' and 'Intimacy') which may be due to some of lead singer Tim Burgess' experiences of late. Over the last couple of years he's been quite frank in interviews about cleaning his act up and I think that this has allowed him to move, lyrically, in to areas which he hadn't explored previously. The whole record, as you might expect after what were probably slightly more troubled times, just sounds more lyrically profound and mature. It's generally less 'party' and more 'serious and reflective' in its overall vibe, which makes it a great late night listen. 'Sincerity' is a real psych-stomper, 'When I Wonder' could have fitted on to 'Tellin' Stories' somewhere, and 'Oh!', which vocally is probably Tim's stand-out track, wouldn't have been out of place on 'Us and Us Only'.

On the whole, there are several clear glimpses of genius here with the band sounding tighter than they ever have, and there's consistency with very little 'filler' on there (with the possible exception of 'Trust In Desire', which is maybe a bit U2-ish in parts, and possibly winks at MOR what with it's chorus, but it still fits within the record). Be sure to also check out tracks 9 ('Lips That Would Kiss') and 10 ('Who We Tough Don't Mind') from the bonus disc of out-takes and would-be B-sides which comes with the special edition package. 'Who We Touch Don't Mind' might just be the best non-album track they've written for years, all Brian Jonestown Massacre-style psyche-rhythm, and it arguably should have been included on the album itself, but it really doesn't matter, the real fans out there will discover and treasure it.

In essence, this is a great album that just continues to grow on you and I'm really loving it. To re-use a very tired old cliché, "it's a real return to form"! Those seeking another 'North Country Boy', 'One To Another' or 'How High' might be left a little disappointed (like 'The Wanderer' clearly was!), but hey, who cares what they think, they were probably never real fans in the first place. Highly recommended and over a month and countless listens in, I rate it at a four and a half out of five (with the half mark only being deducted for 'Trust In Desire'). Get well soon Jon Brookes, Charlatans forever!