All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade is only the fourth album by The Libertines. Fine and poetic, it waves goodbye to pure chaos. Review.
ALL QUIET ON THE EASTERN ESPLANADE – THE LIBERTINES
Many times, I’ve asked myself is Doherty’s genius could be saved, and if it couldn’t, if Barât’s would survive it. In our tumultuous world, and surrounded by their acolytes Hassall and Powell, these two artists have managed to find enough peace to create again. That’s how, nine years after their latest opus, marking their reunion, The Libertines give birth to All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. It’s lively, bright with poetry, classic riffs and heartbreaking moments. Chaos seems put aside, for the best.
Run Run Run opens this fourth one with a nice dynamic, thoughts about the past and future blending together, nourishing and answering each other. It’s an excellent start that sparks the light on why The Libertines have worked so well before. On Mustangs, a portrait of contradictions between dreams and reality, the tone gets lighter. This isn’t the only portrait they paint with a soft allure and deep and spotless poetry. I Have A Friend, Man With The Melody, the dynamic and the familiar punk riff on Oh Shit, all are fading in like fresh Polaroids on a warm background.
And then, Merry Old England chimes. Accepting immigrants, arriving here, not by choice, escaping wars and conflicts, in an ageing and gloomy England… the feeling coming from it is pretty unique and astounding. Another song brings me the same sensation, fueled by rage against environmental inaction, and that’s Be Young. Similarly, I am stunned by Night Of The Hunter and how it integrates Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, as it refers to Laughton’s 1955 feature, whilst speaking to the youth and understanding their pain. It’s a complex poetry, a wonderful result.
Baron’s Claw and Shiver completes the record before Songs They Never Play On The Radio closes it. The true ending, though, is that jam session where the band’s complicity shines, and their bond shows unfiltered. Laughter echoes. And that’s how The Libertines created All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. Chaos is at peace, love wins, poetic and solar. But could the latter be so beautiful if the former had not been there first? History won’t say. May The Libertines thrive like this for many years, that’s what they do best.