Richard Hawley, Coles Corner

Richard Hawley, Coles Corner pulls me right back to my roots in the north and the sound of Richard Hawley's voice and lyrics play out stories that stir memories and move me to laughter and tears. What could be better! A fantastic album. I just love it.

Richard Hawley has been referred to as Sheffield's answer to Johnny Cash and in some ways it's not a bad comparison, although he's more of a crooner than the late Mr. Cash. Hawley has been playing the guitar all his life, and it's a colourful life of bands, touring, drugs, rock and roll nonsense, failed relationships, successful relationships, etc. He tells stories in his songs, stories about Sheffield (Coles Corner), stories about his addiction (Hotel Room), stories about wooing his wife (The Ocean), stories about things he observes. He does it with charm and with wit and musically he harks back to the days of Sinatra and Andy Williams with a great deal of rockabilly hustle thrown in.

If you've heard a Richard Hawley song, you'll know exactly what this album is going to sound like, but it's lush and it's soothing and it will take you on a romantic journey from barstool, to hotel room, to beach front, to the city lights which will make you feel like you've been pulled out of your everyday into a world of black and white soft focus which is not a bad way to spent 50 minutes of your day.