Nearly four years since their debut EP release Even Free Money Doesn’t get me out of Bed, Chartreuse have finally released their debut album entitled Morning Ritual. After following them for years, with their music helping carry me through lockdown, I must admit I was chomping at the bit for them to release an album. After 5 EP’s we are finally here, and what a special album.
It would have been easy for the band to just compile all their songs from previous releases and create an album, but they haven’t done that. They have taken the four songs from their most recent EP Whippet, but then we are treated to eight brand new, never-heard-before songs – and it’s magical.
The album kicks off with ‘All Seeing All the time’ a strong opener for the album and was one of the standout songs when released prior to the album and made up the Whippet EP. The band can perfectly craft a strong build to the big wave that comes over you with the chorus of “All seeing all the time / all believing all the while”. Michael Wagstaff’s vocals seem to move from strength to strength and have really matured and ripened for the album. For me, the song serves as a symbolic opener for the album, to be completely aware throughout the entire album.
We then move onto a brand-new track entitled ‘Backstroke’which we once again are treated to some wonderful vocals from Michael again. The song has a bit of a hip-hop vibe to it with the rhythm of the drums and Michael’s delivery, showing the band’s song variation. This then flows into the previously released track ‘Switch it on, switch it The song covers an overactive mind which is constantly switching from memory to fantasy, struggling to focus and needing to take a snapshot before the moment passes – as it is constantly switching on and switching off.
The band then treats us to four brand new songs back to back, the first one being ‘Who bites down’, amazing drums featured across this track, creating a chaos for Michael to then completely bring even more drama out of with his powerful vocal delivery. Also love the keys woven within it, embellishing the track further – great arrangements of the instrumentals. ‘Never to be real’ is a song that really sticks out, with it being heavier than the rest and the drums becoming a lot harsher. It creates a wave of noise and Michael singing about “the burden of love” and how all of this “Could end up in tears” a very emotionally driven song which is done well.
‘Whippet’ is the only track where Harriet takes the lead on vocals, and as ever it’s a joy. Released prior to the album, but it still stands as one of the best songs on the album. There are so many beautiful lines embedded within it like: “Oh there’s beauty in grafting / but the romance soon where’s thin”, “It’s fine when it’s fine / but I’d rather be real with you”. We also have the killer line “I’m grasping the neck of all of my friends singing I deserve the same as you do” which his heart-wrenching to hear. We’re met with stripped-back instrumentals, yet, that’s all that’s needed with the signified vocals like Harriets.
The musical arrangements on each track are something to be enamoured with, as Chartreuse never overstep the mark and try to do too much. They understand what the song needs, and whether it’s just keys and vocals or a big crescendo of drums – they always nail it.
‘Sorcerer’s Eyes’ wraps the album up, with a slow methodical song with the vocals almost drowning under the instrumentals, with Michael opening the song with “start to transform/turn into something else”. It’s a stripped-back song with ethereal sounds glistening and contrasted with a subtle guitar lead. For me, the song looks at new pastures, and things changing with lyrics like “It’s a new day / reveal the heat of light on a cold face”, I can certainly see this growing on me as it finishes the album up nicely.
Morning Ritual is Chartreuse’s most complete musical release, they’ve always tried something different instrumentally on each EP release. However, this album seems to be an amalgamation of everything that has passed and refined so well for this album release.
Luckily, I go to see Chartreuse live on Saturday, November 11th in Birmingham, and this album has just made this gig even more special. If they are touring near you, then I can only encourage you to head out and see them perform this wonderful release live. See their full schedule below:
Headline tour –
6th November Poetry Club, Glasgow, UK
8th November YES Basement, Manchester, UK
10th November Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds, UK
11th November Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, UK
13th November Rough Trade, Bristol, UK
16th November Lafayette, London, UK
17th November Le Pop Up, Paris, France
18th November Artheater, Cologne, DE
20th November Molotow Skybar, Hamburg, DE
21st November Kantine am Berghain, Berlin, DE
22nd November Cinetol, Amsterdam, N