Charlotte Hatherley - The Deep Blue

It takes no small amount of bravery to begin your album with a breezy instrumental, but that’s exactly what Charlotte Hatherley does with the opener on her second solo effort ‘The Deep Blue’.

Charlotte builds on the success of her debut, and the results are easily seen in both production quality and the artistic freedom on display here; she’s less tentative and more confident. ‘I Want You To Know’ is a storming track, an impressively sunny moment heady with hooks, it’s a triumph. ‘Again’ is at the same time both tender and anthemic, its chorus a thrill, and ‘Roll Over (Let Go)’ is gentle and delicate, an intoxicating little number.

There is a loss of steam, however, at the middle of the album. Charlotte drifts with both ‘Behave’ and ‘Love’s Young Dream’, neither of which engage like they should, meandering through without much direction. Have no fear, though, all is forgiven with ‘Very Young’, a wonder of rolling drums and sinewy guitar. Charlotte lets loose and rocks out: it has ‘single’ written all over it.

The songs grow and develop upon each listen. Though not as immediate as they perhaps could be, they need only time to blossom. Her voice may not be as strong or as diverse as some, but she uses it to its best advantage, and it’s both a focus and point of recognition.

The album is a more expansive-sounding affair, but also more lyrically introspective than ‘Grey Will Fade’. Charlotte has grown as a songwriter, and is clearly interested in the deep workings of human relationships in all their variety. There is purity of heart at work here, and it is this - amongst other things - which make Charlotte Hatherley worthy of our attention.