A few things you ought to know about Charles Douglas. He's a 28
year-old singer songwriter in the tradition of Jonathan Richman,
Daniel Johnston and Jim O'Rourke. He's recorded four solo albums;
one of these featured an ode to drowned Beach Boy 'Dennis Wilson'
and a homage to 'Prince' ("he played guitar like you wouldn't
believe/ and he had more hits than Lionel Ritchie"); another was
produced by Velvet Underground legend Moe Tucker, who also provided
drums; and the latest was recorded by Sonic Youth sound-guru Wharton
Tiers and features the unmistakable riffmanship of The Pixies' Joey
Santiago.
A few other things you may as well know about Charles
Douglas. He dropped out of University in his early twenties and went
straight into drug rehab. He was sacked from a job at Burger King
but took revenge by stealing a consignment of BK paper crowns, which
he wore on stage at gigs. He listens to Miles Davis every morning
and has been known to shout random, drive-by abuse at Ryan Adams
from his car window.
This is Charles Douglas - madman
(possibly), maverick (certainly) and melodic visionary
(undoubtedly). Statecraft is his most accomplished album to date; a
riot of punk-pop hooks (check blistering opener 'Free At Last' and
the Fall-esque title track), white-funk rhythms (the infectious
'Splitting The Atom') and kooky surrealism ('The Rabbit Never Gets
The Carrot'). All this and Santiago's finest fret contortions since
The Pixies' Trompe Le Monde. Statecraft is the perfect introduction
to the heart, soul and sporadic hysteria of alternative America's
best-kept secret - Charles Douglas
by Simon Goddard, editor at
UNCUT and author of THE SMITHS: SONGS THAT SAVED YOUR
LIFE
