The artist who managed to pull it off? One Charlie Simpson, who is now embarking on phase three of his decade-long career by going solo. Chronicling his 26 years so far, the tongue-in-cheek bubblegum melodies of Busted and the darker rumblings of Fightstar are swiftly replaced by a cleaner, guitar-driven sound; the results of which can be heard on Young Pilgrim.
Simpson showcases his singer-songwriter sensibilities best on tracks 'Riverbanks' and 'All At Once' - the former a breezy anthem that climaxes with a crescendo of guitars and strings that wouldn't sound out of place at a Snow Patrol gig, while the latter is a barnyard knees-up of pacey folk beats and brash guitar strums.
That said, it's hard to ignore the hints to his musical past, even if it's wholly unintentional on his part. A case in point is his latest single 'Parachutes', where he confesses: "I'm so sorry for the pain/ Sorry for the aches/ Sorry for the moods I'm swinging." While the remainder of Young Pilgrim - from the melancholic 'If I Lose It' to the raw acoustics of 'Sundown' - is a strong set of confessional tones, whether it resonates with either of his previous demographics remains to be seen.
Tracks to download: 'Parachutes', 'Down Down', 'All At Once', 'Riverbanks'
If you like this, you might like: Mumford & Sons, Snow Patrol, Damien Rice
Watch Charlie Simpson perform 'Sundown' below:
