Richard Hawley – Truelove’s Gutter
Since his 2001 solo debut, Richard Hawley has built a reputation as a gentleman of the night, offering somber and romantic pleadings for the after-hours crowd. His warm baritone delivery of sad ballads recalls the Sinatra-era of song, where lingering cigarette smoke and tumblers inched with Scotch open your emotions for wistful remembrances. On Truelove’s Gutter, Hawley doesn’t disappoint. He clears out vast space for his songs to gain lift; horns and string orchestration swell from quiet beginnings. The seven-minute, melancholiac narrative of “Soldier On” amplifies to an epic grandeur that Morrissey would appreciate. With the repeated refrain on “Open Up Your Door” from an imploring lover, Hawley captures an intimate, pressing moment. “As The Dawn Breaks” opens the album cinematically, an instrumental interlude preceding Hawley confessional whisper, sounding as if he’s leaning in close to your ear. The morning song bird offers reprieve from a night of reflective searching. Hawley surrenders a heartfelt album of tender resignations, a minor masterful work.
Listen To: Richard Hawley – As The Dawn Breaks
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