RICHARD HAWLEY Vinilo y CD

Review: The third solo album by urbanely soulful Sheffield crooner Richard Hawley marked a major breakthrough for the artist, earning him a Mercury Prize nomination. Stylistically, it's hard to imagine Arctic Monkeys' The Car era without Hawley writing this album. Yet despite pedaling a different, more garage rock style at the time, Alex Turner's respect for Hawley goes way back: when the Monkeys pipped Hawley to the post and won, Turner exclaimed, "Someone call 999, Richard Hawley's been robbed!" As for other comparisons, Hawley's similarity to Mark Lanegan's husk is hard to ignore, especially when he lets rip. However, when he delivers softer timbres, like on the serene 'Coles Corner', he evokes Frank Sinatra's decadent tones and the majesty of the string sections are an ornate joy, complementing it perfectly. Turner had a point in his acceptance speech... this is prize-winning stuff and finally getting a thorough reappraisal because of the re-release with half-speed remaster.

Review: The ongoing success of the musical showcasing his work, the terrific (and very Sheffield-centric) Standing At The Sky's Edge, has done much to remind listeners of Richard Hawley's qualities as a songwriter. He's genuinely one of Britain's best of the last few decades, though the varied ways in which those are presented has not always gone down well with listeners. On In This City They Call You Love - another reference to beloved Sheffield - Hawley returns to the smooth, string-laden sound which marked out his most commercially successful album, Coles Corner. His voice - deep, rich and at this point bordering iconic - naturally takes centre stage on a set packed with touching and thoughtful ballads. It's a winner, but then the majority of his albums are.

Review: Live at Halifax Piece Hall marks Richard Hawley's debut in concert with his complete band as the famous Sheffield singer-songwriter made the short trip from his native south Yorkshire to Halifax in the west of the great county. It was recorded amidst the enchanting ambiance of a crisp autumn evening in September 2021 and showcases a blend of Hawley's timeless classics and tracks from his latest album Further, all enhanced by the accompaniment of a four-piece string ensemble. Set against the stunning backdrop of the beautiful Piece Hall, this record captures Hawley at the pinnacle of his performance prowess. Available in both audio and visual formats, this is a trifold heavyweight orange vinyl version.

Review: A rock n' roll compilation with a twist, 28 Little Bangers From Richard Hawley's Jukebox is a brand new selector's V/A LP from the 1990s Britpop figurehead and former member of the band Longpigs and Pulp. Diving deep into his personal collection here, this album reflects Hawley's absolute dedication to a pastime few may already know him for: slowly amassing a mammoth selection of 7" records in the mode of garage rock and skiffle. Many are instrumentals, flaunting Hawley's ear for a sound that goes beyond just lyricism or theme. With star cuts from the likes of The Timekeepers and Bobby Gentry, certainly do not miss this is if you're the the right kind of British rock obsessive.