The Charlatans plan to release next album as free download

photo by Roger Sargent

Although the Charlatans made the announcement to release their as-yet-unnamed forthcoming album as a free download before the news broke about the all-digital release of Radiohead's In Rainbows, the band is just one of dozens of British acts eschewing the traditional CD format.

"Nobody buys CDs anyway... Why don't we just give it away for nothing?" the band's manager and Creation Records found Alan McGee told The Independent. Singer Tim Burgess agreed, adding, "The future is in playing live."

The album, which will be released through London radio station XFM's website on Oct. 22, is the 10th full-length release from the Birmingham quintet. The band weathered label changes and the death of founding keyboardist Rob Collins, but bounced back in a triumphant performance at Knebworth in 1996, when it opened for Oasis and solidified its staying power on the British tour circuit.

Following the album's release, the band plans a UK tour.

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