Back at the height of the Madchester phenomenon it would have seemed folly to predict that only The Charlatans would last the course. Yet long after the demise of The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, Tim Burgess and company continue to be one of the most consistent bands in the country.
Following on from his solo album I Believe, Burgess has dumped the falsetto vocal and adopted a more gritty approach. The soul and blues influences of the bands' previous album Wonderland have also been discarded, and Up At The Lake whips along at a fair old tempo. It takes a couple of listens to work its magic, but once the hook gets its claws into you, you won't be able to stop singing it.
The change of direction shows why The Charlatans' sound has never gone stale - the forthcoming album should be another fine listen.
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