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Manchester Paul Weller The Charlatans Tim Burgess Madchester

January 26th saw the release of The Charlatans’ new record "Modern Nature" and we had the chance to do an exclusive interview with Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess...

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KB:THE CHARLATANS HAVE SUCH AN EXTENSIVE MUSICAL CAREER AND YET, YOU ARE NOW BACK WITH ONE OF YOUR MOST PROMISING ALBUMS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, DO YOU THINK THE BEST IS STILL TO COME FOR THE CHARLATANS? AND MUSICALLY HOW WOULD YOU PERSONALLY DEFINE THE ALBUM ?

TB: I'd say that some of the best songs we've ever recorded are on Modern Nature but the beauty of music is that it's up to the person hearing it to say if it's good or not. Kid's who listen to Taylor Swift might not like it but Taylor Swift is a brilliant songwriter and she sings directly to them. I know from what we've heard back so far - I wouldn't want to put too many ideas into anyone's head about how I would define it - it's what they define it as themselves rage counts most. Is the best still to come for The Charlatans? Who knows? One thing I've learned is not to make too many predictions or plans

KB: HOW IMPORTANT TIM WAS "A NIGHT FOR JON BROOKES" AT THE ALBERT HALL TOGETHER WITH MARK COLLINS AND THE REST OF THE BAND FEAT FRIENDS LIKE LIAM GALLAGHER, BONEHEAD WHO WERE THERE THAT NIGHT TO SAY "WE'VE GOT TO KEEP MAKING MUSIC. WE'VE GOT TO RELEASE THAT ALBUM JON WOULD HAVE WANTED US TO"? (LOVED THAT MESSAGE ON THE SITE "THE CHARLATANS DUG DEEP, AND SEARCHED FOR SOUL" LIKE AGAINST ALL ODDS, AGAINST ALL ADVERSITY "WE ARE HERE TO STAY") - IS THAT HOW IT FELT?

TB: There was just an outpouring of emotion when Jon died and we wanted to do something that he would have wanted and that night was exactly what he would have wanted. An uplifting spirit after so much sadness. It was a time for his family to see what Jon meant to so many Charlatans fans. It was an hugely important event for us. Mark said he thought that we might not carry on after that gig. It was a difficult time for all of us but it was a chance to celebrate Jon's life with family, friends and fans.

KB: SPEAKING OF THE NEW ALBUM, YOU RECORDED IT IN YOUR OWN STUDIO AND YOU LIVED TOGETHER FOR A WHILE MAKING THIS RECORD FROM START TO FINISH: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO RECORD THIS NEW MATERIAL AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE...WOULD YOU PERHAPS WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND START JAMMING ?

TB: There were no jams in the middle of the night - we were quite organised with our sessions. It's hard to say how long it took as we were in no rush once we had the recordings and we left it a couple of weeks before getting it mixed. The whole album was done over about 3 months but we took a lot of ideas in with us. We recorded in the week and took weekends off so it wasn't like we were doing nothing but recording.

KB:"MODERN NATURE" HAS THIS SOULFUL SOUND AND SOUNDS SO OPTIMISTIC: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK TIM AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE WHO COLLABORATED WITH YOU ON THE ALBUM LIKE PETE SALISBURY OF THE VERVE, STEPHEN MORRIS OF NEW ORDER AND THE REST OF THEM. WHAT TRACKS DO THEY PLAY ON?

TB: My favourite track changes every day/ hour/ week and even minute. At this moment it's Emilie. Mark and I worked on it for a while and I'm really please with how it came out. There's a version we did with strings that were recorded by Sean O Hagan that has a real beauty to it. So yes, Emilie, at least for the next five minutes.

Stephen played on Trouble Understanding and Emilie Gabe from Factory Floor played on Lot To Say, CHB and Let The Good Times BE Never Ending.

Pete is on Talking in Tones, So Oh, Keep Enough, In The Tall Grass, Lean in and INYTK.

I'm doing a listening party on twitter on Friday 30 January at 8pm UK time - everyone listens at the same time and ask questions and I tweet about each track. Follow the tweets and you'll get a rundown while you listen.

KB: WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT ALL THOSE YEARS, ALL THOSE ALBUMS 12 STUDIO ALBUMS NOW, DO YOU STILL GET NERVOUS BEFORE A NEW RELEASE OR A SHOW? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THE NEW BANDS OUT THERE?

TB: I do get a little bit anxious - magazines review the songs and give the record a mark out of 5 or 10 or whatever. It seems a bit cold but it's the nature of what we do. The reviews have been really good so that part of it has gone past for this record. Social media gives you instant feedback so at least there's no waiting around! My advice to new bands? Have fun and don't listen too much to advice.

KB: TIM WE WERE AT UMBRIA ROCK IN ITALY LAST YEAR AND IT WAS SUCH A GREAT MOMENT TO SEE YOU JOIN WELLER ON STAGE, SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD DONE BEFORE BUT WHAT WAS IT LIKE? AND REGARDING WELLER, DO YOU SEE HIS WORK AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AS WELL AND ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS NEW ALBUM?

TB: I grew up listening to The Jam and The Style Council and Weller had always been an inspiration - he does his own thing, he doesn't stick to any set formula. He loves to shake things up every so often to keep things fresh. That's definitely an inspiration. He was the first person I sent a copy of my solo album too and he loved the songs. It meant a lot. I always like listening to a new Weller album, there's always a few surprises but always a really high standard.

KB: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE CHARLATANS NOW? FIRST GIG AT BRISTOL ACADEMY IN MARCH?

TB: Tomorrow Mark and I are going on BBC Breakfast TV, then Soccer AM the day after (24.01), rehearsals, some smaller gigs for fans and enjoying our time doing it. The first gig is in Bristol with a great new band called Blossoms supporting us. Most of the gigs have sold out and there's still a few weeks to go - it's great to pay amazing places like The Albert Hall in Manchester and The Roundhouse in London and we get to see the bands on before us - bands like Factory Floor, Grumbling Fur and Riding The Low.

KB: Thank you very much Tim.

The band streamed their brand new album "Modern Nature" in full. Their new album will be released on January 25th 2015. Scroll down to listen to "Modern Nature" below.