A Proper Gentlemen
On his most recent long player, Cole's Corner, Richard Hawley sings “I’ve slipped into the past.” Grab your girl and hold her tight she’ll be your life preserver on a voyage transcending musical time and space. Working through the idiom of 50’s rock n’roll and channeling the spirit of Roy Orbison via Scott Walker, Richard Hawley blends orchestral Americana filtered through English sensibilities evoking swirls of nostalgia for lost love with lush guitars that cascade sonic showers onto romantic losers hopelessly adrift in the sea of heartbreak. Skillfully avoiding derivative rehashing he treads new musical territory with a Sun Records approach that would make Sam Philips jump from his grave on the first chord. Richard hit the Knitting Factory the other night. If you made it there count yourself lucky. Richard is only making 4 US appearances, ironically because of his fear of America, let’s just be glad he doesn’t fear American music.