Let us take a flashback 10 years, to the middle of the Britpop era.

Blur and Oasis are fighting for the title of best British rock band, Kula Shaker are set to be the next big thing, all your clothes come from obscure alternative stores and The Kooks have just learnt their ABC’s. This is a time the older indie generation look back on and sigh, as Indie was indeed independent. With the exception of Wonderwall, not much was on the radio and buying gig clothes from Topman was unthinkable, as it is a time when your second favourite band in music was also your second favourite band from Manchester, AKA - The Charlatans.

Tim Burgess and co. never reached the fabled heights of a certain other Manchester band in the 90’s, but made a number of singles and albums that a lot of 90’s teens and students would play religiously, and still do. And, like Oasis, The Charlatans release their singles compilation spanning a 16 year career.

Also for those not quite familiar from how their sound progressed from indie club classic Indian Rope to the rework of You‘re So Pretty, We’re So Pretty the tracks are in release order, which gives it a more organised direction that differs from many other Singles albums.

For fans of the band since the early days, it might be best to look away now. Besides a few exceptions, most songs are from 1996 onwards, owing mostly to the band changing record label and many of the early songs being covered on the bands’ previous best of, Melting Pot. However the tunes on there still paint you a picture of the bands journey so far, and show the talent of a band that was to be the bridesmaid of Manchester Britpop.

Stand out tracks include the classic The Only One I Know, North Country Boy and the commercial radio friendly Love Is The Key. Also on the album is the almost spine tingling One To Another - a song which instantly brings up memories of scruffy hair, bucket hats and Eric Cantona drop kicking a Crystal Palace fan.