Simpatico. finds The Charlatans UK returning to the sound that made them UK chart toppers and festival headliners for many years, proving once again that they are still a vital force. No longer using his falsetto, lead singer Tim Burgess is in fine form as he continues to find the sweet spot where Dylan-inspired diatribes meet unstoppably contagious melodies – both obsess him. These days he happens to also be obsessed with reggae. First heard on Burgess’ excellent and overlooked solo record from last year (on which he covered Bob Marley’s “Who the Cap Fits”), Simpatico. boasts a number of great blue-eyed reggae tunes, all of them wonderfully upbeat and hummable.

The Charlatans UK took the British music world by storm in 1989 with their independently released debut single ”Indian Rope,” and instantly started the ride to massive pop stardom in their country. The follow-up single, “The Only One I Know,” was beyond infectious, defined the times and raised the band’s star even higher. Charting at #1 in England, Charlatans UK released their first LP, Some Friendly, in the US in 1990.

Catapulted by “The Only One I Know,” the record sold upwards of 300,000 records and got them the cover of Rolling Stone. The follow up release, Up to Our Hips was critically acclaimed, but it was their next, self titled record that debuted in the UK charts at #1, and saw the band headlining festivals across Europe. In 1996, during the recording sessions for the massive follow-up, Tellin’ Stories, keyboardist Rob Collins was killed in a car accident. The stricken band decided to continue, and a month later the single “One to Another” became their biggest UK hit to date. Keyboardist Martin Duffy of Primal Scream stepped in to help finish the album and Tellin’ Stories debuted at #1.

To make Simpatico., Charlatans UK took themselves out of their comfort zone by working with a new producer (Jim Lowe) away from their own studio. They hung up pictures of Gram Parsons and Joe Strummer, and recorded at breakneck speed. On the making of Simpatico., Burgess says:

“Basically we wanted to record the album quite quickly and get a freshness about it. I think everyone dived straight in and it was all guns blazing.” Says bassist Martin Blunt: "The different environment ensured there were no distractions and Jim Lowe impressed us…he was a fan of the band and we thought, ‘great, we'll try him out.’ Sometimes you can get too precious, but with this, it was different."

CHARLATANS UK USA TOUR DATES:

MAY
16 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
17 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
18 - Boston, MA - Avalon Ballroom
19 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
21 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
22 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Thetre
24 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
25 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
29 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
30 - Salt Lake City, UT - Club Sound