The Charlatans - Plastic Machinery

1. Who are The Charlatans? 

The Charlatans are an indie rock band from Northwich, England. They started in 1988 and were part of the Madchester scene of the late eighties and early nineties. Plastic Machinery is the first single from their thirteenth album Different Days (May'17). 

2. What kind of tune is Plastic Machinery? 

The guitar riffs keep Plastic Machinery grounded as the vocals float in the ether. A perfect throw back to a distant era. 

3. Who do The Charlatan's sound like? 

The Charlatans sound like The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, and The Courteeners. 

4. What have the press said about Plastic Machinery? 

“Crunching, soulful” – Clash. 

“The much loved outfit continue in their rich vein of form” – Tenement TV.

“Sounding as fresh as day one” – YouTube Comments.

5. Which bands influenced The Charlatans? 

The Charlatans main influences are Bob Dylan, The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, The Rolling Stones, and Joy Division. 

6. Why should I listen to Plastic Machinery? 

Because you like to pay your respects to English rock'n'roll royalty. Because the lads sound fresh as a daisy. 

7. What are the best Charlatan's songs? 

The Only One I Know is the classic, Stones Rosey, tune from their debut album. Come Home Baby has a joyous singalong chorus and is the stand out track from their last album. One To Another is a Happy Mondays-esque tune from the 1997 album Tellin' Stories. 

8. Any more words?

Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The The, The Cribs) and  Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) played guitar on Plastic Machinery. Pete Salisbury (The Verve) is on drums. 

Different Days is co-produced by Jim Spencer (Oasis, The Cribs, The Vaccines). 

Davey Dynamite is a punk/folk musician from Chicago, Illinois, playing since 2010. Old school punks love his latest album Holy Shit (2016). Davey Dynamite is similar to Against Me! and Frank Turner. He is influenced by Neil Young, Frank Turner and The Clash. Friends Not Fans (2012) is a heartfelt tribute to the punk scene and a stinging rebuke to bands who treat fans as consumers (and a catchy-as-chlamydia punk tune).

“Let’s make one thing fucking clear,

I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t here”

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - The Charlatans

The Charlatan’s Come Home Baby (Dec’14) starts out all big bass and drums with the guitar as able assistant. But the soft emotive voice of Tim Burgess really carries Come Home Baby to the promised land. Come Home Baby creates a moody movie soundtrack moment, something chill and existential. Come Home Baby won't make you scream like a girly boy, run out and bend over for The Charlatans. But it is very good.
 

The chorus comes on a little stronger, the tempo lifts and the song ends with a choir in support in a celebratory mood. Nice. A song celebrating love and it's rehabilitation, a cool tune for relaxing moments, Come Home Baby is one of the best indie songs of 2015.

“We are working it through,

Solution for you and for me,

Nothing between what will be”

The Charlatans are an English indie rock band started in 1988 from a very small town Northwich, in Cheshire. Come Home Baby is the third single off their twelfth, you read that correctly same as the months in the year, album Modern Nature (Jan’15).

Shit you need to know:

People have said Come Home Baby has a, “…soul groove, a hint of bouncing disco rhythm” and a “…big, bright sing-a-long chorus of joyous vocals backed with soaring harmonies.”

Modern Nature was produced by the band and Jim Spencer, famous for working with Oasis, New Order, The Cribs and The Vaccines.

The Charlatans got three drummers in to replace the one who died of a brain tumour. One from New Order, one from the Verve and one from Factory Floor.

 

The Guardian reviewer thought Modern Nature best album of The Charlatans' career saying they “…come good on their upbeat promise.”

 

Clash magazine were more circumspect saying Modern Nature was a step forward in the evolution of the band and that it has seventies disco and gospel influences. The band have said they wanted to make a more soulful record.

 

The singer has mentioned Shaun Ryder of The Happy Mondays as a huge influence as well as The Stone Roses, Iggy Pop, Ian Curtis and Mick Jagger. Apparently the band pitch a tent to Bob Dylan too.

 

The Charlatans will probably be forever synonymous with The Stone Roses, but also other Brit Pop bands of the early nineties like The Inspiral Carpets, Ride and The Wonder Stuff.

 

The Charlatans supported The Who and The Rolling Stones in big ass stadium concerts in 2007.

 

The Charlatans’singer, and barber dodger, quite liked his drugs. At one time he moved in with his drug dealer and had a habit of asking people to blow cocaine up his shit box.

 

The Charlatans tunes to make you a believer are The Only One I Know, So Oh, How High and One To Another.

 

Sloppy seconds is a little bit more of the Manchester sound and the indie rock band Wonder Stuff with their only UK number one Dizzy (1991). A fun bubbly pop number.

“The first time that I saw you girl

I knew that I just had to make you mine”