We see things they'll never see
The Kecks – All For Me
The Kecks are back with their new single ‘All For Me’. Released on the 23rd October, it once again saw the North West via Hamburg outfit link up with producer JB Pilon.
Sheffield has always produced great romantic song writers. Cocker, Walker and Hawley possess a romanticism tha now, the Kecks are tapping into. ‘All For Me’ unlocks the heart of Pulp’s ‘Dishes’ and Hawley’s ‘Coles Corner’ whilst flirting heavily with Bowie’s Berlin phase.
On the surface, there is enough warmth in the guitars to enrich the most broken of hearts. By the time of the solo, they will be dreaming of their wedding bells. Lurking though, is something more twisted and interesting. As front man Lennart Uschmaan sings of “take off your gloves and lay into my guts” and “you have got to have some stuff”, something darker bonding this love affair is clearly at play.
Uschmaan delivers such affection through his vocals that, you can’t help be sucked into this alternative love story. This is one hell of a return from The Kecks. May it long continue.
Richard Hawley - Further
Sheffield icon Richard Hawley is back with his eighth studio album ‘Further’. His previous offering ‘Hoillow Meadow’, laid bare many personal anxieties for the world to see. This time out, Hawley consciously decided to make something more positive and more direct. Will the charm dissipate? Will it be contrived?
Hawley’s attempt to be positive, attempt a heavier sound at times but, lack the raw excitement of youthful rock n roll can. ‘Alone’, whilst pleasant, has a tired ‘Easy Money’ (Johnny Marr) feel to it. ‘Galley Girl’, nods to Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ classic Rich Woman’ but again fails ignite the devil. However, on album opener ‘Off My Mind’ slides into a dirty rock n roll groove to endlessly admire. ‘Time Is’, finds a sweet spot with its psyche riffs and exhilarating harmonica on this reflective look at the passing of time. It has a honesty that befits Hawley’s emotive soul far better.
Hawley’s poetic soul is where the album thrives. Sheffield’s Blake is at his best when wandering the streets of his mind alone. ‘Is There A Pill?’, musically, combines the romanticism of ‘Coles Corner’ and the dangerous guitars of ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge’. Lyrically, it’s a message of love to himself and the family of a friend who was lost tragically to suicide. It’s a remarkable feat to deliver the lines ‘Is there a pill / To untwist my heart / And help me sever feeling shame at being apart?’ with such warmth.
Hawley’s ability to sprinkle stardust over his ballads keeps coming on ‘Not Lonely’ and ‘Midnight Train’. The former being a hopeful ode to his children. Yearning to see them enjoy the benefits his generation did. Amid the Tory leadership race where liars and Islamophobes battle NHS dismantlers and Austerity masturbators, the poignancy is somewhat elevated. Meanwhile, ‘Midnight Train’ sparkles like The Byrds’ ‘Ballad of the Easy Rider’ in a British spring time.
Not everything lands on ‘Further’ but, few can match the beauty of the highs Hawley can still summon in his early 50s. When he enters into his reflective and poetic groove, it’s impossible not to fall in love with him all over again.
Friday 2nd August marks our 8th birthday. Come down to the New Cross Inn for a night of great live music. Tickets available here:
Richard Hawley live @ Hammersmith Apollo
Rock ‘n’ roll stalwart Richard Hawley played the Hammersmith Apollo last night, his biggest London gig to date. His quiff was impeccable, comic timing perfect, and guitar playing to saviour.
Rock ‘n’ roll stalwart Richard Hawley played the Hammersmith Apollo last night, his biggest London gig to date. His quiff was impeccable, comic timing perfect and guitar playing to saviour.
Hawley’s breakthrough as a solo artist came in 2005 with the classic ‘Coles Corner’. Remarkably, it only charted at 37 but is there a BBC6 listener who doesn’t own it now. Hawley, like Paul Weller, possesses a drive to work only with new material and leave nostalgia to the meek. As a result, ‘Coles Corner’ and ‘The Ocean’ only make the encore.
The bulk of the set consists of 2012’s psyche-drenched ‘Standing On The Sky’s Edge’ and his latest offing ‘Hollow Meadows’. ‘Don’t Stare At The Sun’ and ‘Down In The Woods’ are propelled with such genius, the tag guitar legend is not far away for Hawley.
Recent single ‘Heart Of Oak’ is given the full beans to mesmerise whilst slower efforts ‘Tuesday pm’ and ‘I Still Want You’ allow for soul searching and lumps in throats.
It’s no surprise to see Hawley cutting loose on the guitar but, with three crooning classics ‘Coles Corner’, ‘Lady’s Bridge’, and ‘Truelove’s Gutter’ in his arsenal, the urge to use that material is highly commendable.