Two For His Heels

The older I get, the more I appreciate the qualities of singers and songwriters. One of them is Sheffield's Richard Hawley, who announced a new album last week. The Wiener Standard labelled his music "somewhere between Roy Orbison bombast, soft rockabilly rumble and songs from the Lee Hazlewood and Johnny Cash school". Two For His Heels exactly a song in this label, a sparse, atmospheric and cinematic song about a deal that goes wrong, its low blues rumble reminiscent of Link Wray and Duane Eddy. Nothing less the song of the week for me.

Nothing Like A Friend

Richard Hawley is back with a new record. There were mostly ballads on it and it is good this way. He turned once again to something that made him great for me. Most of the songs are played in a very laid back atmosphere. For me his voice is getting older and is more brittle than before. Maybe because he's getting older and wiser but his voice became much more elegance to his songs and the way he interprets them. Certainly not a record for everyone and for every time but I always liked his voice and his songs. Maybe one of these artists that never got the respect they should have. On this song Jarvis Cocker plays the bass and the sentence is for eternity: In the end, there is nothing like a friend. One more record for the times between evening and night.

Richard Hawley - Nothing Like A Friend

Open Up Your Door

I'm still impressed about today post from TVV telling us about the story behind one of his favorite records. Rarely have I read such a personal and touching lines in a blog. This was the occasion to look in my collection of songs that suit for me in a similar way to the heart. One of them is from the very underrated musician and producer Richard Hawley. He released more than seven records during the last 12 years - most of them critical praise them, leading many big names such as Coldplay, Radiohead and R.E.M. to enthuse about Hawley's work. Hope, that someday he will get the success he should have.

Richard Hawley - Open Up Your Door