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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Lauded singer-songwriter Richard Hawley (a former touring guitarist for Pulp, no less) made his commercial breakthrough on 2005’s remarkable, Mercury Prize nominated Coles Corner - his fourth solo album and one that oozed nostalgic balladry, old fashioned lyrical sentiment and cinematic soundtracks in equal measure. Lady’s Bridge – the name is yet another ode to his native Sheffield – mines the same seam as Coles Corner, with 11 eloquently charming songs that switch between the romantic strains of opener "Valentine" and "Roll River Roll" and more uppity numbers such as the rhythm & blues infused "Serious" and the countrified twang of tracks like "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" and the Johnny Cash inspired "Dark Road". Hawley’s lyricism retains its coruscating, retro feel, his vibrant baritone again matched to rousing orchestral strings, climbing chord sequences and background harmonising, creating atmospheres of dreamy fireside warmth and heartfelt melancholy (see "Lady Solitude"). It’s as hopelessly alluring as it sounds: when songs are this timeless, you really could listen to them for the rest of your life. --Paul Sullivan
Review
Richard Hawley has more than paid his dues in doing time in his share of bands including The Longpigs, Pulp, and Jarvis among a myriad of other outfits. It was only in 2006 when his third solo album Coles Corner was nominated for a Mercury Award - leading winner and head Arctic Monkey, Alex Turner, to quip that Hawley had been robbed - that cemented his gentle upgrade out of the shadows, and won him a whole host of new fans in the process.
Like its predecessor, Lady's Bridge takes its name from a local landmark in his native Sheffield, a bridge that historically connected the poor side of the town to the rich side. Along with various crossover, turning 40 and bridge analogies, it's also a deeply personal album to Hawley, who lost his father to cancer early in 2007. As a tribute, the album cover features Richard in Sheffield's answer to The Cavern - the legendary Club 60 - on the stage where his father, over 30 years ago, used to play with various blues legends John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.
Lady's Bridge sees the scope broadening further from Coles Corner, into an album that sees the average tempo lift a notch. Anyone expecting a radical new dance direction will be disappointed. He has seen that the wheel is doing fine for now and intends to leave it that way. While Hawley's sweetly dark, yet doomed romantic voice - not lightly is it compared to Scott Walker, Roy Orbison and Jim Reeves - intones tales of past love, wanderlust and heartbreak. Oh, and in the swelling swoonery of lead single 'Tonight The Streets Are Ours', ASBOs. On the magnificent 'Lady Solitude', Hawley evokes a hard worn northern Leonard Cohen, and blooms on the bruised romance of opener 'Valentine', while the gentle skiffling 'I'm Looking For Someone To Find Me' lifts the spirits immeasurably.
Overall, Lady's Bridge is an utterly lovely, timeless album that Hawley can be proud of, and deserves to further his cause in becoming a proper national treasure. Don't let him get robbed again. --Ian Wade
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
If there is a better songwriter and vocalist at work in Britain today, I'd like to hear about it. His debut mini album "Richard Hawley" was a tantalising glimpse of what was to come and his three follow up albums confirmed him as a singer songwriter par excellence. To continue that brilliance into a fifth album, "Lady's Bridge" is a towering achievement.
Whatever fame he gained as a bass guitarist with Pulp is completely overshadowed by his glorious solo work.
The dark, lonesome lyrics of "Lady's Bridge" speaking of loss, solitude, yearning and forlorness are brought alive by his warm, rich baritone and beautiful, soaring melodies suggesting that there is hope and redemption just around the corner.
There is a timelessness to Richard Hawley's music that defies the 21st century. "Lady's Bridge" showcases Hawley's ability with 6 and 12 string guitar, 8 string lap steel, Tennessee hi-string and hammer dulcimer - brilliant! In addition there is an eclectic range of instruments including vibraphone, bells and glockenspiel as well as beautifully orchestrated strings and the Stocksbridge Brass Band which combine to add a definition to the album that makes it an enchanting and uplifting experience. This is music for any century - don't miss it.
Whatever fame he gained as a bass guitarist with Pulp is completely overshadowed by his glorious solo work.
The dark, lonesome lyrics of "Lady's Bridge" speaking of loss, solitude, yearning and forlorness are brought alive by his warm, rich baritone and beautiful, soaring melodies suggesting that there is hope and redemption just around the corner.
There is a timelessness to Richard Hawley's music that defies the 21st century. "Lady's Bridge" showcases Hawley's ability with 6 and 12 string guitar, 8 string lap steel, Tennessee hi-string and hammer dulcimer - brilliant! In addition there is an eclectic range of instruments including vibraphone, bells and glockenspiel as well as beautifully orchestrated strings and the Stocksbridge Brass Band which combine to add a definition to the album that makes it an enchanting and uplifting experience. This is music for any century - don't miss it.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
For the perfect day that you do not want to end, I can think of no finer album than this to sit in a darkened room, single malt in hand, and listen to. The melodies, lyrics and orchestration are superb and to repeat a previous reviewer's comments, are calming and enchanting. If you were to buy only one of his albums produced thus far, this is the one (and I thought Coles Corner was near perfection too!).
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Richard Hawley's latest album is embued with the same romantic retro ambience as his previous ventures. The former Pulp guitarist turned baritone crooner gives a masterclass in classic pop nostalgia, pitting his melancholy Roy Orbison-cum-Scott Walker vocals against beautifully arranged compositions. Whereas he has garnered some criticism for playing it too straight, and for paying homage to his influences too conspicuously, after a couple of listens the strength of the songwriting wins over, with barely a dud track. Those who think this is too mild, not edgy enough, are missing some of the darkness of the lyrics, that recall Lee Hazlewood and, especially on 'Dark Road', Johnny Cash.
From the opener 'Valentine', the lushness of the music evokes a strangely sedative and wistful mood, so disconnected from modern times that it feels oddly haunted. 'Sing me a lullaby cos I'm sleepy' he croons over the dark and breezy atmospherics that recall Lambchop's 'Nixon'. Similarly, 'Roll River Roll' and the title track are rich with imagery, with Hawley intoning the 'deep dark waters' to take him on his 'journey home'. This ancient river, under Lady's Bridge or its metaphorical equivalent, is repeatedly returned to as a central image, a source of release, a vision of peace and even cessation. If you allow the mood of this thematic and atmospheric premise to envelope you, it becomes so much more than just the pastiche it has been unfairly accused of. Hawley takes solace from solitude from this image, something this listener was able to do in his music.
It's not all dark and gloomy however, the faintly rockabilly 'Serious' and 'I'm Looking Forward To Find Me' are toe-tapping (rock 'n' roll) dancefloor numbers. But the highlight for me is the epic mood piece 'The Sea Calls' which drifts in a sea of ocean imagery. Both otherworldly and beautifully melodic, it recalls the floating grandeur of Tim Buckley's 'Buzzin' Fly'. Overall, the richness of the music, and the permanence of the songwriting make for a timeless classic - the first I have heard for some time.
From the opener 'Valentine', the lushness of the music evokes a strangely sedative and wistful mood, so disconnected from modern times that it feels oddly haunted. 'Sing me a lullaby cos I'm sleepy' he croons over the dark and breezy atmospherics that recall Lambchop's 'Nixon'. Similarly, 'Roll River Roll' and the title track are rich with imagery, with Hawley intoning the 'deep dark waters' to take him on his 'journey home'. This ancient river, under Lady's Bridge or its metaphorical equivalent, is repeatedly returned to as a central image, a source of release, a vision of peace and even cessation. If you allow the mood of this thematic and atmospheric premise to envelope you, it becomes so much more than just the pastiche it has been unfairly accused of. Hawley takes solace from solitude from this image, something this listener was able to do in his music.
It's not all dark and gloomy however, the faintly rockabilly 'Serious' and 'I'm Looking Forward To Find Me' are toe-tapping (rock 'n' roll) dancefloor numbers. But the highlight for me is the epic mood piece 'The Sea Calls' which drifts in a sea of ocean imagery. Both otherworldly and beautifully melodic, it recalls the floating grandeur of Tim Buckley's 'Buzzin' Fly'. Overall, the richness of the music, and the permanence of the songwriting make for a timeless classic - the first I have heard for some time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thank you Mr. Hawley
I could write a review about the musical perfections and imperfections of this album. I won't.
Last night, when I was lying on my bed crying, because I felt lonely, unloved,... Read more
Last night, when I was lying on my bed crying, because I felt lonely, unloved,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by eri
Melodic & moving
What to say?
If you naven't encountered Richard Hawley yet, then try this one. As the arctic monkeys said, at the NME awards 'he was robbed'.
( think 'twas NME... Read more
If you naven't encountered Richard Hawley yet, then try this one. As the arctic monkeys said, at the NME awards 'he was robbed'.
( think 'twas NME... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Trits
Worthy follow up
Enough has been said about mr. Hawleys peculiar but beautiful voice, about his choice of repertoire and about his musicianship. Read more
Published 12 months ago by P. Schlingemann
Excellent album
It's an excellent album. I saw him live in Malaga after the album was released and I still remember the magic of that concert. It was magic and unforgettable. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Francisco Calahorro
"Better than Morrissey" shock
It`s taken me a while but last year I discovered the exquisite music of this fine man, whose voice reminds me of so many others` while at the same time being one of a kind. Read more
Published 16 months ago by GlynLuke
Hawley's best album so far
This is a classic album. I think it's Hawley's best so far, although I loved his other albums too (Truelove's Gutter, Coles Corner, etc). Read more
Published 21 months ago by Acton
Love this man's voice
I bought this after hearing one track "Tonight the streets will be ours" being played on Chris Evans' breakfast show. Fab-u-lous. His voice does it for me.
Published 23 months ago by Jackie
Quality
I am delighted with this purchase. I had heard Richard Hawley on radio & TV on quite rare occasions (perhaps I'm listening to the wrong shows! Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Mrs A C
Can`t stop playing it !
I bought this album after playing the 30 second samples on Amazon, being unfamiliar with Richard Hawley`s work. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2009 by John-HP
a foretaste of his talents
Having bought his new album, and been astounded that I had not heard him before I looked around and decide to purchase Lady's Bridge. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by S. Lockyer
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