October 11, 2012 17:20

The Libertines' Carl Barat on 'Up the Bracket': 'It stirs up mixed emotions'

Libs singer/guitarist opens up on the 10-year anniversary of the album

Photo Gallery: The Libertines
Photo: Roger Sargent

The Libertines' Carl Barat has revealed that the 10-year anniversary of 'Up The Bracket' stirs up mixed emotions.

Speaking in NME's special Libertine birthday issue, available on newsstands and available digitally now, Barat said that he feels "happy and sad in equal measure" when he thinks about the band's debut album.

He explained:

It's like a time capsule, bristling. I feel beatific joy twinned with deep sorrow, which was what wrote the songs back then.

The singer and guitarist had not been aware of the 10-year anniversary of The Libertines debut album and got "a bit of a shock" when he was informed, as he had thought it was "five at a push".

"There's definitely some pride there," he said. "Really, the first time I'd listened to it in about 10 years was when I heard the covermount CD you lot made. And I couldn't even list the original tracklisting. I've got a lot of memories of it though."

The exclusive covers album comes with this week's issue and features specially recorded tracks from Tim Burgess, Spector, Mystery Jets, Tribes, Splashh, Howler, Peace and more.

Elsewhere inside our special 'Up The Bracket: 10 years on' issue, we've got a brand new interview with the band plus the full story of all the brilliant chaos around the album's release, including untold stories from all the main players plus plenty more Libs action.

The world's greatest music magazine is now available as a digital edition! For exclusive content you won't find on NME.COM, download here on your iPad/iPhone and here on your Kindle Fire or Nook.

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