Peter Doherty: Hamburg Demonstrations review – genuine ragged charm

A cynic might look at the tracklisting for Peter Doherty’s first solo album in seven years and conclude that he was washed up as a creative force. Among its 11 tracks are one he wrote 15 years ago, a rerecorded version of last year’s tribute to Amy Winehouse and two versions of recent single I Don’t Love Anyone (But You’re Not Just Anyone). And yet there’s a genuine ragged charm to the likes of playful, Brighton Rock-referencing opener Kolly Kibber and the pretty She Is Far. It’s not without its longueurs – Oily Boker is an unremarkable five minutes – but at least Doherty can once again show why anybody was bothered about him in the first place.