Amazon.co.uk Review
Though
Grey Will Fade marks her solo debut, Charlotte Hatherley will already be a familiar name to fans of
Ash. Back in 1997, she made the Northern Irish trio into a fourpiece, adding her guitar and sweet vocal harmonies just in time for their 'difficult second album',
Nu-Clear Sounds. Interestingly, though,
Grey Will Fade doesn't sound much like an Ash album at all. While her bandmates are keen to make the transition to straightforward rock (as heard on 2004's excellent
Meltdown), Hatherley seems happier sticking to her indie roots.
Grey Will Fade is, for the most part, a great little indie rock album, filled with bouncy little guitar gems. Hatherley has chosen her influences wisely, and the ghost of the Pixies looms large throughout, particularly in her incendiary, Joey Santiago-esque guitar playing on "Summer" and "Stop", where the solos tear along in the middle of the melody. And the upbeat, power pop vibe on "Kim Wilde" and "Paragon" are reminiscent of Weezer's best and catchiest work. In fact, the only real misstep here is "Down", which threatens to derail the album at the halfway point with it's plodding pace and tepid lyrics. But
Grey Will Fade quickly regains its balance, and proves that Ash's Charlotte Hatherley has a voice all her own, and it's one worth listening to.
--Robert Burrow
CD Description
Ash guitarist Hatherley unleashes her debut solo effort. Whilst reminiscent of the classic Ash songwriting style, this features a more retro sound inspired by girl guitar pop bands like the Bangles and the Go-Gos and 90s indie rockers Lushand the Breeders. Produced by Eric Drew Feldman (Frank Black, Deus, Polyphonic Spree), it includes the single 'Summer'.