Richard Hawley – Standing At The Sky's Edge (2012)

This is my second purchase from Off The Record, a truly fantastic shop in centre:mk which raises funds for Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes, and continues my gradual accumulation of albums by Sheffield crooner, Richard Hawley.

The first impression of this album is that it has a much bigger, fuller sound than earlier albums, and for me, that's a big plus. It's much more of a rock album than some of the more country and western tinged earlier releases.

The gauntlet is laid down from the very beginning, as She Brings The Sunlight starts with an Enoesque drone, followed by an Eastern intro (think of the drone which opens Led Zeppelin's When The Levee Breaks) before the full band kicks in loudly, and a fantastic slow song powers away. Standing At The Sky's Edge is darker, more mysterious, but full bodied, a mood continued in Time Will Bring You Winter, while things get much more upbeat and rocking in the fantastic Down In The Woods, possibly my favourite track on the album.

Seek It and Don't Stare At The Sun are both much more orthodox Hawley songs and arrangements, a pleasant enough listen, but a bit of a comedown after the powerful start to the album. Similarly The Wood Collier's Grave, but there's a real bounce back to the big sound in Leave Your Body Behind You, and the glory of the final track Before.

I've really enjoyed listening to this album over the past couple of days. Some reviewers at the time felt the songs were overlong, but I feel there's something more to discover on each listen. It's up there with Hawley's best (so far?).

Link to album tracks

4* - Hawley's big, powerful sound is refreshing on this album.