Last year, Black Country group Chartreuse retreated to an Icelandic studio by the name of Flóki. The result of their trip is an experimental and vulnerable sophomore album called ‘Bless You & Be Well’, which served as a way to process life-altering events experienced by the group’s members.
Opening and title track ‘Bless You & Be Well’ combines layered guitars, ethereal backing vocals, and alternative production to create an interesting and haunting track which touches on health struggles. ‘Fixin’’ begins with contemplative electric guitar and soft drums, giving the track a laidback feel. The song is calming and the lyrics are an honest tribute to the ups and downs that come with being in a long term relationship.
‘I’m Losing It’ combines finger-picked acoustic guitar and heavenly harmonies sang by Hattie Wilson and Mike Wagstaff, whose voices compliment each other perfectly. As the song progresses, extra layers are added to it which give it a feeling of hopefulness, despite its sad and vulnerable lyrics. ‘Kid Won’t Eat’ has a fuller sound, with louder drums, electric guitar, a noticeable baseline and strong vocals. Experimental production makes this a very enjoyable track to listen to.
The album takes a moodier turn with ‘Offerings’, a gritty and melancholic track with a faster pace and intense feel to it. Conversely, ‘More’ has indie-rock undertones, with a driving beat, loud guitar, and an uplifting sound. ‘Sequence of Voices’ is another positive sounding song with honest lyrics. It is reminiscent of The National and Big Red Machine, with its distinct vocals and layered instrumentalism. These tracks show the group’s innate ability to craft introspective and poetic songs.
‘Fold’ has a dark sound to it, with echoing vocals and atmospheric electric guitar. Experimental production and touchingly vulnerable lyrics make ‘Holiday From Normal Dreaming’ a standout track. As it progresses, the song breaks out into two cascading instrumental interludes, one in the middle and one at the end, which give it a wistful and joyous feel. This is my personal favourite track on the album.
‘Moon Man’ is inspired by Chinese mythology, according to guitarist and vocalist Mike Wagstaff. Drawing on the story of Chang’e, the wife of legendary archer Hou Yi, the song has a melancholic air and memorable poeticism to it. According to legend, Hou Yi was awarded an elixir of immortality for shooting 9 out of 10 of the suns which were scorching the earth. However, there was only enough of the elixir for one person and, not wanting to become immortal and leave behind his wife, Hou Yi decided not to take it. When his apprentice attempted to take it for himself, Chang’e drank it to prevent him from consuming it.
Consequently, she turned into the Moon Goddess and floated to the moon, leaving Hou Yi behind to mourn her, and put out offerings during the full moon to show how much he missed her. This tale of all consuming love and grief serves as the perfect inspiration for this track, making it fit in comfortably with the other songs on the album.
The album comes to a close with ‘By July’, which starts off as a gentle and stripped back track. It’s wonderfully unpolished, with each little detail, from the sounds of the guitar strings to the emotive vocals, coming together to create a uplifting song. The song picks up the pace and, as more instruments are added to the mix, it becomes swirling and upbeat. It’s the perfect note for the album to end on.
When making ‘Bless You & Be Well’, Chartreuse found solace in their creativity. This can be felt in each and every track on the album, which are a testament to the group’s songwriting and musical talents. Through the collective efforts of each band member, brothers Mike (guitar and vocals) and Rory Wagstaff (drums), Rory’s partner Hattie Wilson (piano and vocals), and Hattie’s longtime friend Perry Lovering (bass), alongside the input of producer Sam Petts-Davies, Chartreuse have created a deeply human album that truly shows the power music holds in bringing people together and helping us heal.
Pre-save or pre-order ‘Bless You & Be Well’ ahead of its release on the 29th of August. Connect with the group on social media to keep up to date with them and get a ticket now to one of their shows listed below so that you don’t miss out!
Chartreuse Live Dates:
(*) with support from Moreish Idols
(+) with support from Lavender
(**) co-headline with Moreish Idols
Thursday 28th August – The Bread & Butter Collective, London (album release party)
Saturday 30th August – Banquet Records, Kingston (in-store)
Sunday 31st August – Rough Trade, Bristol (in-store)
Monday 1st September – Truck Records, Oxford (in-store)
Tuesday 2nd September – Crash Records, Leeds (in-store)
Thursday 30th October – Green Door Store, Brighton (+)
Saturday 1st November – Bradshaw Hall, Birmingham (+)
Tuesday 4th November – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow (**)
Thursday 6th November – Three Tanners Bank, North Shields (*)
Friday 7th November – Deaf Institute Lodge, Manchester (*)
Saturday 8th November – Mash, Cambridge (*)
Monday 10th November – The Lanes, Bristol (*)
Tuesday 11th November – Forum, Royal Tunbridge Wells (*)
Thursday 13th November – St Peter’s Church, Poole (*)
Friday 14th November – Bush Hall, London (*)
Saturday 15th November – Live at Leeds in the City
2026 EU Tour Dates:
Monday 2nd February – DR Studio 3, Copenhagen
Wednesday 4th February – Paradiso, Amsterdam
Thursday 5th February – Lutherse Kerk, Groningen
Friday 6th February – Artheater, Cologne
Saturday 7th February – Molotow, Hamburg
Sunday 8th February – Bergahin Kantine, Berlin
Tuesday 10th February – Supersonic Records, Paris
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