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Elly Roberts reviews
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 RufusWainwright’sWant Two.Hawley though, is British through and through, fromthe steely city of Sheffield, but there’s nothing steely about thismasterpiece.
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 crushingwork, and that’s the catch, it ventures out in the most universal mannerpossible. Inspired by an old meeting place in the city, Coles Corner (now aJohn Lewis store) has provided Hawley with plenty of material. It’s alsorecorded at Yellowmarch Studios in the city. Vocally, he’s rich and tenderat every point of reference, even giving master singer Roy Orbison a run forhis money (Darlin’ Wait For Me a prime example)
This ‘swooner-crooner’ sounds like some kind of musical misfit from a bygonegeneration before angst-ridden rock prevailed. In reality he’s a maverick,as romance, soul and nostalgia are the key threads (even the CD artworkshows 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 ofAmericana that Johnny Cash would have loved to cover, as would WadingThrough The Water. Hotel Room with its Hawaiian sways, and Darlin’ Wait ForMe are genteel ballads right out of the early 60s.
Closing, the dreamyreverbed-piano tinkling of Last Orders is a fitting conclusion to abrilliant collection. Just about every generation would appreciate this, asit’s very cool.
If this doesn’t chart, we’re witnessing the first heinous crime of the 21stCentury.
The best of British – outstanding in every department.
Weblink:Richard Hawley.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Coles Corner
2. Just Like The Rain
3. Hotel Room
4. Darlin’ Wait For Me
5. The Ocean
6. Born Under A Bad Sign
7. I Sleep Alone
8. Tonight
9. (Wading Through) The Waters Of My Time
10. Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet?
11. Last Orders
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.