Richard Hawley

Richard Hawley

‘Standing At the Sky's Edge’ (Parlophone)

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By Camilla Pia 04 May 2012

This sixth studio album sees Richard Hawley ditch his heavily orchestrated, Indie Orbison Of The North shtick in favour of a sound that’s darker, ragged and riff-heavy. It works; ‘She Brings The Sunlight’ is a hypnotically dirgey opener, ‘Time Will Bring You Winter’ is menacing and grooveladen and ‘Down In The Woods’ and ‘Leave Your Body Behind You’ are both brilliantly ebullient pop songs. Freaked-out super fans will be appeased by ‘Seek It’ and ‘Don’t Stare At The Sun’ – which both tick the romantic ballad box – but Hawley’s most compelling work lies when he’s completely out of his comfort zone.

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