Charlie Simpson: 'Young Pilgrim' - Album review

Moving on from a tween pop-rock boyband to a hard-hitting rock group is something that is rarely achieved with success in an industry of pigeon-holing and stigma - especially when said-boyband were Smash Hits darlings Busted and the rockers were Kerrang! faves Fightstar.

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: