JENNY SCOTT talks to rock guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and finds out why she is surprised at all the acclaim her debut solo album is attracting. . .

IT'S been branded the album of the summer - an outstanding mix of experimental pop-rock numbers that has proved irresistible to fans and critics alike.

But to husky-voiced Charlotte Hatherley, the 25-year-old rock guitarist whose debut solo album Grey Will Fade has provoked the rush of recognition, it's all come as something of a shock.

As she embarks on a tour of Britain that takes her from Glasgow to Portsmouth, via Manchester, in less than a week, Charlotte is faced with trying to deal with a mass of media attention and her full-time commitments to the band that made her name - Ash.

"I never really thought the album would mean doing live shows, or even releasing singles!" she laughs, as she prepares to start rehearsals.

"But a lot of people really seem to connect with this album. I haven't written about relationships or guys, but about my girlfriends and people seem to respond to 'best friend songs'.

"The more people have talked about it, the more stuff I've ended up doing."

Because of her commitment to Ash, though, Charlotte's solo work has had to be squeezed into short spaces of time-out taken from her her hectic "other life". The songs on Grey Will Fade have been germinating for the past five years and were recorded in a rushed two-month break from Ash last year. Likewise, her first solo tour is squeezed into a six-day space.

"It's short because that's the only time I get off in September," she explains. "I'm excited and nervous, but I think it's something I could get used to. It still feels quite strange, getting my own band together and telling people what to do because I've been used to collaborating with the guys from Ash."

Despite rumours to the contrary, however, Charlotte's success does not mean she will be leaving the band which brought her into the spotlight.

Still very much a woman in a man's world, though, she would like to see more girls with guitars join the music scene.

"I was looking for a girl who could sing and play guitar for my band, but I couldn't find anyone," she says. "I ended up having to steal a few from other groups. I'd like to have a few girls around me on tour - I always end up with guys!"

Finally - one question fans of the album have been longing to ask - what prompted Charlotte to name one of her songs after 80s popster Kim Wilde?

"Kim Wilde was the working title of the song," she says. "I wanted to get the guitars to sound like the keyboards from Kids In America. It was only when I put the lyrics to it I realised it had nothing to do with her at all!"

Catch Charlotte Hatherley at the Manchester Academy on September 22. For tickets, call (0871) 2200260.