No Hushing Sweet Charlotte
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Artist:
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Album:New Worlds
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Track:White
Well, it took almost two years, but one of my foremost rock crushes (and a former member of the power-popping band Ash), Brit singer-songwriter-guitarist Charlotte Hatherley, is finally about to release her third solo album New Worlds. From where I hear, her first two - 2004's Grey Will Fade and 2007's The Deep Blue - far outstrip anything recorded by Ash. Hatherley's mix of hard-edged, pop-tuneful, confessional and progressive rock is the stuff of eargasms. And she's a hell of a guitarist, currently taking that role in the touring version of exotic frontwoman Natasha Khan's fab, dreamy art-rock band Bat for Lashes.
New Worlds, produced by Luke Smith of the electro-pop unit Clor, is slated to drop later this month, and it can't come too soon. Up to now, Hatherley hasn't enjoyed any massive sales or major chart success in her native U.K., and she's a virtual unknown in the U.S., except among the cognoscenti who probably are also aware that her previous producer Eric Drew Feldman produced or played keyboard and/or bass for the cult-beloved likes of PJ Harvey, Pixies, Captain Beefheart, Snakefinger, The Residents, Pere Ubu, and The Polyphonic Spree. Still, Hatherley's lack of across-the-board fame doesn't mean that you shouldn't get to know her music.
An easy way in would be to check out some of her videos, which are among the coolest ever. In fact, the mega-creative clips for "Bastardo" and "Summer" from her first album were directed by Edgar Wright, her former boyfriend as well as the director of the hilarious zombie comedy "Shaun of the Dead" and the equally hilarious spoof of police procedurals "Hot Fuzz." And the videos for "Behave," "I Want You to Know" and "Siberia" from her second album are just as view-worthy, especially the animated glory of "Behave."
In lieu of access to all of New Worlds, I am being mollified by promo clips for two of the songs from the album, "White" and "Alexander." (They're both directed by Elliot Manches, and not in rarified Edgar Wright territory - but what is?) I'm not sure that I'll revere the whole collection as I do the previous two Charlottes, but I'm enjoying what I'm seeing and hearing so far.
"White"
"Alexander"
Comments (13)
Mmm, "White" sounds like the place the hooks from The Cribs' album moved to. Good to know they're around somewhere.
Needless to say that I'll keep my ears open.
Having seen her live a few times, I can confirm she is a great guitarist - not sure her latest singles are as immediate as her first ones, but they are still good!
Dale: I'm a-waitin' on the rest of the new C.H. disc. Just a matter of days now.
Neill: Have yet to see her do her solo thing live - although I don't think there's been a chance as yet in the States. But I could've caught her on the Bat for Lashes tour, and was faced with schedule conflicts. Guess I'm not as obsessive a fan as I thought.
Not really familiar with most of her work, I never delved into Ash or her solo work. Will keep an eye out on the upcoming one, thanks for the (re)introduction. :)
SA: You must check out those earlier videos that I referenced in the post. Go to YouTube or something comparable, type in "Charlotte Hatherley," and enjoy.
ah yes, the rock star crush.........makes the music sound that much better eh mike?
C'mon, Kevin. I might not have been crushing to begin with if the music didn't sound so great. (Is this another chick 'n' egg thing?)
southern culture on the skids.......loved the band but then saw them in concert. Something about seeing a woman handle a bass guitar, kiond made me a little wet
Rawk: I get ya, buddy. When Charlotte plays her guitar solo in the "Bastardo" video, well, you know...
yeah, I KNOW!
She's babe-tastic!
if she were a president she would be bade-ra-ham lincoln..... am I dating myself with that reference?
Not sure. Unfortunately, I've been dating myself for the past year or so...