Richard Hawley – Lowedges (2003)

A recent buy from Oxfam in Market Harborough, who seem to have had a plethora of decent donations recently, as we'll find out over the next week or two.

I'm late to Richard Hawley, having had him recommended by people whose opinion I respect, and this is the third album of his I've picked up in the last couple of years.

According to Wikipedia, Hawley's genre is 'chamber pop', a little piece of nonsense I thought I'd share. Quite simply, this is a collection of well crafted, gentle, easy on the ear love songs. At times the country and western influence means it isn't always my cup of tea, but it's an album with far more to enjoy than to criticise. Perhaps there aren't the stand out classics, like Coles Corner and Tonight The Streets Are Ours on this one, but there are plenty worthy of mention. Opener Run For Me is a powerful song, and The Only Road has an infectious feel. There's the particularly lovely You Don't Miss Your Water at the halfway point, while final song The Nights Are Made For Us wraps things up like a warm blanket.

While this isn't really my sort of music, it works as the sort of background which you can't help tuning into. It's not my favourite of Hawley's albums, but it's certainly worth forty minutes of your time.

Link to album tracks

3* - an album full of gentle love songs, an enjoyable listen