A long, strange trip

Of all the bands to emerge from the overblown and short-lived “Madchester” scene at the tail end of the 1980s/early 1990s, The Charlatans, remarkably, remain the only survivors. One reason for their longevity may well be down to their unfashionable status in certain critical quarters. True, the trippy psychedelia of their indie debut, ‘Indian Rope’ and the follow-up top ten hit, ‘The Only One I Know’ from their debut album Some Friendly thrust them headlong into the baggy scene. But they didn’t attract the fanatical critical acclaim enjoyed by the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays, which undoubtedly allowed them to progress away from the white heat of the media spotlight.

Within a few years The Charlatans had embraced Britpop with their timely, self-titled fourth album, which contained acknowledged classics such as ‘Just When You’re Thinking Things Over’ and ‘Crashing In’. They even survived the dance wars by collaborating with the likes of the Chemical Brothers and members of Primal Scream. Along the way, they’ve also endured tragedy in the shape of the death of keyboard player Rob Collins in a car crash.
Now 15 years on the go, they’ve just put out their eighth studio album, Up At The Lake – widely regarded as a sparkling return to form. So how have they kept it together for so long?
“It’s funny but the very worst time for us was actually that short period when we were fashionable,” says Tim Burgess, the band’s enigmatic frontman (pictured). “There was a big downfall after that first album and it was a scramble for us to keep up the momentum. The second album [Between 10th And 11th] wasn’t that well received. But we worked hard and stuck to being real and wrote about what was happening in our lives. Fortunately, the loyal fans didn’t leave us during that time and have stuck with us to this day. It’s amazing to us that we can still get our records in the charts.”
Another reason for The Charlatans’ impressive staying power is that the’ve always delivered the goods in concert and remain firm festival favourites. Last year they did some dates with the Rolling Stones while this summer they appear at the Isle of Wight Festival along with David Bowie and The Who.
“Yeah, it’s probably true that we’re at our best live and we do like playing a lot,” Burgess agrees. “We just enjoy the madness of life on the road. People might think we should grow up a bit but it’s such a great feeling when you’re out there. You almost feel like you’re untouchable. With us it’s always been a bit rock and roll when we’re on tour anyway. I’m dreading the thought of it at the moment. It worries me a little that I still enjoy that side of it so much. But once we’re out there I’ll be fine.”
Up At The Lake combines pretty much all of their influences to date, albeit with a more melancholy, reflective, classic-rock approach. Much of it was written last November, when the LA-domiciled Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins holed up in a cottage in Cornwall armed with nothing but a bunch of records including Burgess’ current fave, a Johnny Cash/Bob Dylan bootleg from the Nashville Skyline Sessions and albums like The Kinks’ Something Else and a couple of Small Faces records.
The result is a solid collection of songs, showcasing the band’s growing stylistic range. The title track and first single is a typically celebratory Charlatans anthem; ‘Apples And Oranges’ has a strong Who feel, while ‘Sing Me A Hymn’ was, Burgess says, closely inspired by the Cash/Dylan bootleg. The rough and ready ‘Feel The Pressure’ comes courtesy of Tom and Ed Chemical’s production assistance, continuing the association, which has served them well in the past.
“It was a good record for us to make,” Burgess enthuses. “If me and Mark had gone to Cornwall on a different day or at a different time of year, it would have been a different record. I’d recommend the approach to anyone. We had actually started work on the album in LA and couldn’t get anything done.”
Meanwhile, for much of the rest of the summer it’s back on the road for a sold-out tour and some festival shows including a June 20 appearance at the Finsbury Park Fleadh. Clearly, Burgess can’t wait.
“It’s your back catalogue that makes you the most proud when you play live,” he says. “I got a Bob Dylan tour book from 1975 and it listed all his records to date. He’d only been recording for 12 years or so and I remember thinking ‘imagine having all that stuff to your name’. Now we’re in that position where we have a history of stuff to draw from.
“It’s weird but we’re beginning to get nods from people who have been around a lot longer than us,” he adds. “David Bowie is apparently very happy that we’re opening for him at the Isle of Wight and Ron Wood wants to play guitar with us in London.”

Up At The Lake is out now on Island/Universal