Hamburg Demonstrations CD

Unlikely as it sounds, and long though we've been waiting to say this, it may finally be that Pete Doherty has got his act together. Despite its title making one suspicious of a collection of half-formed demos, in fact this collection of appropriately dreamy yet surprisingly steely ditties might be the most well-rounded effort the old waster has created since the debut of his first band proper. Dealing with addiction, political tension and celebrity with charm and quip-handy insight, whilst nurturing arrangements that unite the garage-band rawness of the '60s with lusher pastures, it's a record to have his doubters thinking again.