Album review: Carl Barât – s/t
It’s always struck me that Carl Barât is more famous for being Pete Doherty’s friend than for any achievement of his own, something that must grate somewhat, especially when it comes to the Libertines where he played an equal part but was always overshadowed by the shenanigans of his band mate. The two Dirty Pretty Things albums didn’t do much to help raise his profile, failing to set the charts alight, so Barât has finally decided to go it alone and release his self titled solo debut, and it’s quite a departure.
The album is full of tales of great friendships and lost loves. Still retaining the romantic lyricism of the Libertines (and interestingly released on his own Arcady label – he can’t seem to quite let go of the whole Arcadia thing), Jacques Brel’s influence is also apparent; (somewhere in the north amid the drunken hunting ground/upon a sticky nightclub floor, a willing rose I found – ‘The Fall’). Musically the album heralds a change in direction, a liberal dose of brass, strings and keys give most of the songs a Brechtian cabaret feel. There are some fine, well crafted songs here, in particular ‘So Long, My Lover’ and opener ‘The Magus’, but what could have been a great album is relegated to just a good album. Sadly it ends with more of a whimper than a bang as the remarkably drab and uninspiring ‘Ode To A Girl’ brings proceedings to a close, and he was doing so well! Nonetheless, it’s a good effort and one that should bring Barât some of the recognition he deserves. 3/5
Mark Cousens
Out 4th October on Arcady
No related posts.
