Unless we count the limited 7” and download-only ‘Behave’ prior to Xmas, ‘I Want You To Know’ is technically CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY’S first ‘official’ public appearance since her amicable split from Ash. It’s also the first ‘proper’ release on the Little Sister label set up by Charlotte and her manager, Ann Marie Shields.
Inevitably, the launch of the label comes with all the usual ‘artistic freedom’ guff we read about constantly, but while I tend to be a cynic about such things, certainly the label’s future signings (do we still call them such?) could do worse than follow the trail being blazed by their erstwhile founder, for ‘I Want You To Know’ sure ain’t half bad.
Once again recorded with help from her trusty (and hugely talented) sidekicks Eric Drew Feldman (Beefheart, Pixies, Deus, Pere Ubu) and PJ Harvey drummer Rob Ellis, ‘I Want You To Know’ may not be quite as bouncy as the excellent ‘Bastardo’, but it’s still pretty damn effervescent as well as being weirdly ethereal with Chazzer apparently both serenading us and answering her own vocal al at once. The drums are massive, the guitars gradually seep out and Feldman’s Occidental keyboards are a nice touch. It all adds up to uneven, but likeable bubblegum pop fare with a stronger than expected aftertaste.
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As yet, I’ve no idea whether the two B-sides are indicative of what the forthcoming album holds in store, but let’s hope so as they’re promising too. The first, ‘Sister Universe’ is initially gentle and honeyed, before the band smash thru the skein and up the ante. The floaty, girly aspect in Hatherley’s voice is appealing here, too, and she goes into almost full-on Kate Bush mode on the closing ‘Suspiria’ which is almost lullaby-ish in execution and comes on like a cross between ‘Aerial’ and the more pastoral bits of Julian Cope’s ‘Fried’. Well, at a push anyway.
OK, public re-appearance negotiated with aplomb. Now let’s concentrate on that album.
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