The Charlatans usher in a new era today with the announcement of their 14th studio album, We Are Love, set for release on October 31st via BMG. This news arrives alongside the album’s vibrant title track, “We Are Love,” which the Manchester quintet recently debuted live during a landmark hometown performance at Castlefield Bowl.
Frontman Tim Burgess states that the track is,
like an open-top car ride in the credits of your favourite movie driving along the coast to somewhere amazing.
We Are Love, was recorded at two locations deeply significant to the band’s history: Rockfield Studios in Wales and their own Big Mushroom space in Middlewich, Cheshire. Their return to the storied Rockfield, nearly 30 years after recording Tellin’ Stories there—a session tragically marked by the death of keyboardist Rob Collins—was a poignant and important step. Frontman Tim Burgess notes that concepts of hauntology and psychogeography permeated the album’s creation, reflecting the band’s awareness of their complex journey, embracing both the highs and lows that have shaped them.
Throughout the record, The Charlatans honour their mighty legacy while refusing to be confined by it, maintaining a career-long drive to be progressive and innovative. The album serves as a testament to their enduring spirit, acknowledging the past, including the profound loss of Collins, while boldly pushing forward with a sound that is both deeply rooted and forward-looking.
In conjunction with the album reveal, The Charlatans have also unveiled plans for a December UK tour, featuring headline shows in Leeds, Stoke, Bath, London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Tickets for these highly anticipated dates will go on general sale at 10 am BST on Friday, July 18th. As one of the UK’s most beloved bands from the past four decades, The Charlatans boast an impressive career spanning 13 albums, 22 Top 40 singles, and three Number One albums, with era-defining anthems like “The Only One I Know” and “North Country Boy.” We Are Love signals a confident new chapter, showcasing a band comfortable with their storied past while eagerly embracing a bright future.
