It’s naturally a risky proposition for a member of a famous group to go solo. Expectations, indulgences, and disorder can turn a solo project into a mess, with self-aggrandizement being the theme of a release. Charlotte Hatherley, former member of Ash, has managed to buck this trend already with her successful 2004 album, Grey Will Fade, and now with her second effort, The Deep Blue. Her follow-up is well-conceived and smartly-executed, filled with an endearing array of power pop.
The Deep Blue begins with an etheral word-less track, "Cousteau", instead of hurredly jumping into a more radio-friendly number, setting a relaxing tone. It jumps into the liquid "Be Thankful", a floating, mid-tempo pop ballad. The album keeps building on the next track with "I Want You To Know", featuring ’50s pop vocals with a quick, grinding guitars and rumbling drums. The Deep Blue keeps its momentum over the next few tracks, a mix of swirling balladry and energetic guitar pop.
The majority of the album is this style of powerful melody, Hatherley’s apparent specialty. Juggling flighty guitars and frictionless vocals, she maintains lofty arrangements while keeping the lightning in the bottle. "Roll Over" is a bedroom scene-evoking lounge tune that shows off her abilities as a crooner. "Very Young", on the other hand, crashes in with intent guitars and a pounding drum beat and keeps it going. "Dawn Treader" is a spacey lullaby that further alters the mood through The Deep Blue.
Over the course of her second solo album, Charlotte Hatherley displays an uncanny sense of pop and rock for an individual to possess. For a band member to go it alone, it’s often difficult, but Hatherley makes it seem easy with an excellent array of rock and pop that will surely endear her to as wide an audience as her former band, if not larger.
