Bill Pritchard has spent more than 30 years perfecting his craft. His albums veer from the deeply introspective and moody, to more overtly pop ones. His newest, Haunted, is one of the latter. It's also a highly listenable record.
Numbers like "Smile" and "Perpetual Tourist" are very catchy, and bright. For fans who weren't around with Bill's earlier efforts in the late Eighties, these kinds of songs offer easy ways into Bill's music. For those of us who've loved Bill longer, these 2026 selections are the sort of thing we always knew Pritchard was capable of, and proof of his undiminished talents.
The majority of Haunted favors a straightforward sound. The songs sound a little to me like stuff from UK acts like The Supernaturals and The Divine Comedy. Yes, this is a far cry from Bill's darker, earlier material, but Haunted is such a likeable record that it's hard to nitpick anything here. Smartly realized pop of this sort is always welcomed here, especially if it's from an artist long-beloved by me.
Haunted by Bill Pritchard is out now via Tapete.
[Photo: Luke Hodgkinson]