Babyshambles -‘Sequel To The Prequel.’ (Parlophone)

A few weeks ago, the first single from Babyshambles’ first album in six years ‘Nothing Comes To Nothing’ started doing the rounds. And the thought was: this is pretty damn good.

Unless you’ve been under a stone for the last decade or so, you’ll be aware of Pete Doherty. And the chances are that whether or not you’ve heard a note of his music (solo, as a member of The Libertines or Babyshambles or a collaboration), you’re aware of him as a character. Much like Courtney Love or Madonna or (well, the list could go on, couldn’t it) the music that made him famous has often got left behind.

And listening to Sequel To The Prequel, you feel that here again is a reason -well, a number of reasons, actually, why his musical career has lasted as long as it has. Because he is actually a great songwriter. But not only that, it’s an album made as a band, which is why it’s out as Babyshambles, rather than his own name. The aforementioned ‘Nothing’ is pretty damn good, as is ‘Maybelline’ and for my money, the dark closing track ‘Minefield’ is the finest thing here.

To hell with whatever you have read, forget the tabloids and enjoy the music.

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Sequel To The Prequel is out on September 2 on Parlophone.