The Charlatans - Forever: The Singles
[Island]

Few bands boldy change direction so frequently as The Charlatans and yet they've managed to pull it off with spectacular results time and time again.

Forever: The Singles is a swift look through their extensive 16 year career that has spawned nine albums to date, countless classic singles and a large loyal following. Often bands begin to lose their edge or fall into bland areas just a few albums into their career, yet like fine wine, The Charlatans have improved as the years have gone by.

Since the beginning of the 90's, they've flirted with numerous genres; the early days took baggy dance grooves and swirling Hammond to deliver indie anthems like The Only One I Know, which saw the band name-dropped alongside names like Stones Roses and Happy Mondays.

Although bands like those are long-gone, The Charlatans continued with further direction changes. Through a Bob Dylan phase, country and blues flavoured classic tracks like Impossible, and both dance and soul heavily dominated Wonderland, to deliver results like Love Is The Key and A Man Needs To Be Told.

The one thing this retrospective proves, is regardless of current music trends, The Charlatans are keen to do their own thing and this is one of the reasons their music has remained timeless. Most of the singles included here could easily be released now and sound every bit as exciting, vibrant and essential as the day it was written.

You see, the group not only toy with new ideas from one release to the next, but behind each single lies classic songwriting - every track is strong in melody and incredibly infectious.

Just remember, The Charlatans are not just a singles band and if truth be told, most of their best tracks still remain tucked away on their past albums. Maybe you should ask Santa for their entire back catalogue this Christmas.