‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’ Review

Words: Josh Parsonage

‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ carries an extra decade of maturity since The Libertines last record was released, but at times the band find themselves giving in to their indie roots which leaves the album struggling to find its own definitive character. In classic Pete Doherty style ‘… Eastern Esplanade’ casts out a collection of character driven stories which seek to romantically navigate the uglier aspects of life in Britain, but this thematic effort betrays itself in the moments where over-produced knockoffs of noughties Libertines tracks pop-up.

The opening two tracks both fall into this trap. Neither ‘Run Run Run’ nor ‘Mustang’ have anything to hate about them in their own right, but by the end of the album they feel completely out of place and a step below the musical quality of which is to come. The first of the two tracks however can be appreciated for its opening verse as a strong lyrical introduction to the record: “It’s a life long project of a life on the lash / I’ve forgotten how to care but I’ll remember for cash” immediately sets out the importance of self-reflection upon the chaotic lifestyle lived by the band which continues throughout the album.

It takes until the fourth track, ‘Merry Old England’, for the record to get into the meat of its poetic appeal and this song’s scathing address to those who champion England in its current state as something worth desiring, is stunning. Doherty takes aim at the attitudes held by those who vilify refugees with comical lyrics that pokes fun at their common arguments: “A B&B and vouchers for three squared / Is it everything that you dreamed of?”. Intertwined with this political message is a selection of childhood imagery which depicts Doherty’s lasting love for his country and carries a level of hope.

This level of hope is taken forward into ‘Man With The Melody’, where each of the four Libertines take turn in discussing the lows of their troubled lives. Backed by a swirling combination of keys and acoustic the song presents its hook: “No, you cant catch me / ‘Cause I got the melody” which is evident in the band’s coming back and sticking together despite the odds of the last two decades being stacked against them. This song feels like an important point in The Libertines career carrying with it an intent to continue to make music in acknowledgement of the time they lost.

The highlight of the album comes when ‘Night of The Hunter’ and ‘Baron’s Claw’ appear back-to-back. The first, inspired by the people Doherty met during his time in prison, tells the heart-breaking tale of someone battling to keep themselves ahead of the law and seeks to explore this experience in an unforgiving world: “You can’t blame me, it’s this world that’s made me / Now they’re taking me away for a while”. The track is romanticised by the emotional guitar part which settles along a successfully upsetting string piece.

Equally as musically impressive, the unsettling tone which surfaces in ‘Baron’s Claw’ effectively brings to life the story of its mysteriously pale-faced character: 1960s wrestler Baron von Raschke: “As his skin melted on the street / The Baron swayed on his feet”.

The album comes to a close with the once again self-aware ‘Songs They Never Play On The Radio’ in which Pete and Carl beautifully reflect upon the lost years of The Libertines through the allegory of the collapse of radio and physical media in place of streaming: “Songs they never play on your radio/ As the cobwebs fall / The needle skips a groove”. The final moments of ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ fittingly features all four band members laughing and joking as they sing out the songs hook. This moment would bring a tear to the eye of any committed Libertines fan who may have waited years to see the band in this healthy a state.

The final five tracks of ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’ make for flawless listening rich with engrossing stories and powerful music, and when paired with ‘Merry Old England’ and ‘Man With The Melody’ creates an undoubtedly successful addition to the Libertines catalogue. Despite this, it could’ve been better had the temptation to stick something in for the old-timers not have been too much to resist.

Listen to the album below!