Charlotte Hatherley - The Deep Blue (Little Sister)
3/5
By: Jacob Dunkley
Having amicably left Ash after the release of her first solo album ('Grey Will Fade') and setting up her own label (Little Sister, who release this record), Charlotte returns with her second album, a record which shows a notable progression from her debut long player. 'The Deep Blue' stands as a collection of more confident and better written songs, though we predict many will be confused as to its true worth, as despite there being some clear moments of well thought out and cleverly structured songwriting here, at times it can seem somewhat... rushed.
Make no mistake however, the ties to Ash have been well and truly cut. There's a lot more experimentation here than present on the bubble-gum pop laden first album and this for Charlotte is certainly a move in the right direction. At its heights, it's both beautiful and captivating, with swirling guitars and luscious melodies in plentiful supply. However, the weak moments feel slightly awkward - but what with many of the tracks seeing Charlotte attempt to reinvent herself as a modern answer to some of the seminal early 4AD bands (The Breeders, Belly, Throwing Muses...) crossed with Kate Bush, it's understandable that she falls a little short of the mark. However, songs like 'Dawn Treader' and recent single 'I Want You To Know' are examples of just how much Charlotte has come into her own.
So amidst 'The Deep Blue' we have a mix of some really great songs and some that could have perhaps have done with more time spent on them. What it does show is that Charlotte certainly has more to offer than the role she played in the background of Ash. With this record, she shakes off her past and creates something which forms no recollections of her musical history, and hints towards a brighter future for both her as a performer and us as her audience.
Artists in this article: Charlotte Hatherley
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