The Charlatans
Different Days

There was a period, roughly seven years long (let's say between the release of "Simpatico," an album that brought them back to the top ten after the commercial failure of "Up At The Lake" in 2002, and the rebirth with the beautiful "Modern Nature" two years ago) during which the Charlatans seemed lost, unfocused, and at the mercy of an inevitable artistic decline.

The death of drummer Jon Brookes in 2013 certainly didn't help, but it gave a boost for an artistic rebirth strongly sought and desired by the remaining members of the band. The aforementioned "Modern Nature" revived the name of the Charlatans, at least in the UK, both artistically and commercially, and now the group led by the blond Tim Burgess attempts the KO blow to be definitively (even if probably no longer necessary) included among the great, old classics of English rock.

And that the artillery is heavy is hinted at by the lineup of heavyweight guest appearances for this new "Different Days": former Verve drummer Pete Salisbury (essentially the main replacement for Brookes), Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert of New Order, Anton Newcombe of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, writer Ian Rankin, Nik Void of Factory Floor, Donald Johnson of A Certain Ratio, even Johnny Marr (on guitar for three tracks) and Paul Weller (who co-writes the stellar closing ballad, "Spinning Out," as well as playing the piano and duetting with Burgess on vocals).

Despite the incredible dream team put on the field, "Different Days" is an essentially and profoundly Charlatans record: in the sounds, in the writing, in Tim Burgess' warm voice, and in the usual and now iconic sound fabric enriched by Tony Rodgers' keyboards. Starting from the stellar single "Plastic Machinery" (one of the tracks played together with Marr, along with "Not Forgotten" and the title track, arguably the best songs of the batch), this new album reworks and combines the band’s best influences and presents them as if on display, as if to say, "this is who we are, for better or worse, and that's how we want to be considered and remembered."

Many beautiful things to highlight, such as the warm embrace dominated by dreamy acoustic guitars in "Hey Sunrise," the straightforward pop rock of "Solutions" (with Morris and Void), and the more modern (but not too much) touch of the aforementioned title track and "Over Again."

A great return, very much a definitive consecration, for a band never quite appreciated and praised enough. How wonderful to hear them in such good form.

Best track: Different Days