If being part of a legendary C86-generation band wasn't enough, Simon Chesterfield (of The Chesterfields, 'natch) is now offering up an orchestral record. Well, it's not exactly classical, but Simon Chesterfield does serve up string-drenched settings of Chesterfield compositions, with warm vocals up front. Call it chamber pop if you must.
Co-produced by Ben Scott Turner, Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey) and Simon Chesterfield, the album was orchestrated by Charles Harrison. These tracks sound epic this way, with each a piece of a larger whole, such that Simon Chesterfield has the feel of a concept album. It's not really, but it is a record with a holistic vibe to it. "Something", the lead single, is nearly a lament, precise and careful in its forward momentum, while "Kill Someone" finds Simon's vocals riding the ebbs and flows of the swells of the backing instrumentation. The effect is nearly hypnotic, even when applied to a more recent Chesterfields gem, like "The Waiting Room", from 2022's New Modern Homes.
There's a depth and weight here that renders Simon Chesterfield a demanding listen. But's a lovely one too. The strings buttress the nimble melodies, stretching out passages in new ways. And all of these numbers find Simon Chesterfield's material being recast in a new setting, one that's light years away from the jangle pop that once brought us to his band in the first place so many -- ahem -- decades ago. Simon Chesterfield is, in other words then, the start of a new chapter for a familiar artist.