Elly Roberts reviews
Richard Hawley: Coles Corner
Distributed by
Mute
- Cat.no: CDSTUMM251
- Released: September 2005
- Rating: 10/10
From the moment the sweeping orchestration kicks in I was absolutely hooked.
What, a young man prepared to croon in early 60's style?
Well almost, but Coles Corner is more than just about crooning.
This album is absolutely STUNNING. Its nearest rival would be American Rufus
Wainwright's
Want Two.
Hawley though, is British through and through, from
the steely city of Sheffield, but there's nothing steely about this
masterpiece.
Melody driven from the start, it drips with swooning vocals,
torch songs, observational and personal experiences (Tonight is typical).
Now, Sheffield is the most unlikely inspiration for this type of crushing
work, and that's the catch, it ventures out in the most universal manner
possible. Inspired by an old meeting place in the city, Coles Corner (now a
John Lewis store) has provided Hawley with plenty of material. It's also
recorded at Yellowmarch Studios in the city. Vocally, he's rich and tender
at every point of reference, even giving master singer Roy Orbison a run for
his money (Darlin' Wait For Me a prime example)
This 'swooner-crooner' sounds like some kind of musical misfit from a bygone
generation before angst-ridden rock prevailed. In reality he's a maverick,
as romance, soul and nostalgia are the key threads (even the CD artwork
shows Hawley gently clutching a bouquet), whether it's personal or imagined,
but imagination is not too evident here. Just Like The Rain is the kind of
Americana that Johnny Cash would have loved to cover, as would Wading
Through The Water. Hotel Room with its Hawaiian sways, and Darlin' Wait For
Me are genteel ballads right out of the early 60s.
Closing, the dreamy
reverbed-piano tinkling of Last Orders is a fitting conclusion to a
brilliant collection. Just about every generation would appreciate this, as
it's very cool.
If this doesn't chart, we're witnessing the first heinous crime of the 21st
Century.
The best of British - outstanding in every department.
Weblink:
Richard Hawley.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
