Can Richard Hawley put a foot wrong? On this is sixth full album it seems hard to believe that it’s been 2 years since his last release, ‘Lady’s Bridge’ and 4 years since the magnificent ‘Coles Corner’.
As you might expect ‘Truelove’s Gutter’ isn’t about blunderbuss aggression, it’s about a gentle pace of life and those new to Richard Hawley’s smokey tones and dreamy melodies will be swept away in his craft as a songwriter.
In terms of production and classical accompaniment you get what you might expect from a Richard Hawley album and that is superior and effortless in both accounts from start to finish. The same can be said for the vocals with his trademark smooth yet gravely tones as consistent and beautiful as they ever have been.
So piecing them together like some kind of a musical jigsaw, surely he has another hit on hands but there are a few cracks in the armour of what many will hope is a fitting follow up to his acclaimed albums, ‘Lady’s Bridge’ and ‘Coles Corner’.
Flaws are few and far between, and even though Hawley could send you to sleep with his dulcet tones, the lyrics throughout ‘Truelove’s Gutter’ are a bit flat in places. Gone are the heartache and pathos, in are lyrics which are more observational and about people he knows.
On top of that it doesn’t have the pull or singles you might ambitiously expect but does still have the knack of mesmerising the listener with its soothing tone and relaxing soundscapes throughout.
Die hard fans will just be happy for another release, but casual listeners and potential passengers to the Richard Hawley bandwagon may as well just pickup that discounted copy of ‘Coles Corner’ and wait for his next release.
6/10
Words by Adam Adshead
