They’re the words that strike fear into every music journalist’s heart: concept album. Yet in the hands of Charlotte Hatherley, former guitarist in indie-rock band Ash, it’s a delight.
True Love’s conceit is classic sci-fi: brokenhearted, the protagonist, Traveller, wanders a distant planet in search of love. Vangelis’s Blade Runner soundtrack is the obvious inspiration behind these ethereal soundscapes, although this is much more than derivative, fangirl fare.
A Sign and Hook You Up are glorious pop songs in their own right, while Hatherley’s yearning vocals ensure that even the most robotic moments retain a compellingly human core.
If the week’s events have left you in need of a little escapism, there are few better-sounding places to start.
(Pledge Music)
