The Charlatans - Love Is Ending

No love lost

As ever The Charlatans return with a sound that is unlike anything they’ve released before and at first I’ll admit I wasn’t too sure but the more I listen to it, guess what… the more I like it. Love is Ending is the first track to be released from the band’s forthcoming album Who We Touch and it has quite a pop punk feel to it. God damn it if it isn’t so bloody catchy especially around the chorus too! Initially I felt a little bit disappointed with the slowed down middle section though as it means you have to stop throwing yourself around and just kind of stand there, arms in the air waving and shouting along but not really doing anything. I know I say this sort of thing quite a lot, but for a single edit, which I’m presuming this version is, I don’t want it to stop, I want to keep going. This is of course just me being demanding because it does fit the song perfectly!

As the band’s name suggests they are not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves, and I’ve read comments on this saying that there is something almost Sex Pistols about the guitars, not sure I can hear that myself but I’m not a huge punk fan and probably haven’t even heard the track someone was referring to. Fierce guitars and heavy drums give it a real bit of oomph, whilst the bass keeps the track rocking on steadily. Accompanied by the Hammond organ it feels like it’s really rich in texture and in a way it is this texture in some of their older tracks that really made them come alive to some people.

It would certainly seem that the band haven’t lost the ability to write a really good hook nor have they lost sight of movement in the melody. I’m not entirely sure I like the oooohs in the track, but it is that bit that gives it a pop feel. You know what, the more I think about it, the more I think of The Libertines or something when I listen to this. Not that it sounds like them, that isn’t what I mean at all, but it’s that attitude that exudes from the music, the attitude mixed with something so pop that people just can’t help but sing along and bounce around. The less that is said about the “70s ending”, however, the better though, as it almost ruins it for me, but then lead singer Tim has explained that "the messy ending is supposed to be messy because something is ending and its ....well!..... ugly!!!!", and he of course, does have a very valid point. Musically it's representative but my ears? No they're still not that keen on mess sorry. Despite the messy ending, overall the track is still growing on me and when I'm dancing... I'm loving it.

12/06/2010 - Elena