Richard Hawley as is well documented used to play guitar for a band called the long Pigs before jumping ship to Pulp and still plays for Jarvis Cocker. A few years ago he came out with a sel-title mini album on the same Setanta label, where he started singing for himself.

And what a voice, he doesn't bother with too much variety but what he does is recreate the sound of the 50's. A beautiful slow beat and crooning voice embellished with slide guitar, hawaiwan guitar etc.

All his songs seems to suggest he's just lost another lover or is about to lose another lover. He is the great lost romantic. This despite the fact he's married and lives with his wife in Sheffield. Sheffield is his home town which incidentally he also gets rather romantic about. Especially on his latest album Cole's Corner.

This latter album has been getting rave reviews since the start of the year and a major promotional push from his new record label, Mute. The videos are well worth a watch on their website, www.mute.com.

But for my money Lowedges has the edge(sorry!) in every way over Cole's Corner. Maybe its because its the first time I was introduced to his voice but every song here is a heart wrenching classic and possibly a bit more subdued than Cole's Corner.

Starting off with 'Run for me', you know you're in a for a late night listening, and smooching session, well 20 minutes before you have to turn the record over. We head on to 'Darlin'' the lack of a 'g' heralding the slight american twang he sings on this song with and you're surrounded by the most magnificent twang of hawaiwan guitar.


'Oh my love' starts off slow and dreamy before building slowly to a marvellous crescendo and a great last line. Such is a hallmark of the magnificent Richard Hawley.

There are songs about motorcyles and love, such as 'the only road'(a country feel to it. Its that slide guitar again) and 'the motorcycle song' which answer the suggestion of the cover, a shillouetted Richard sitting astride a motorcycle, no doubt a 50's Harley.

The killer track on the album for me, is at the start of side two, 'You don't miss your water till your river runs dry'. Guess what! His love just left again. What is so wonderful about this song is the slight change in voice at certain junctures where he does sound like he's about to break down and cry. And I'm all ready to cry with him.

Luckily the next song is the aforementioned 'motorcycle song'.

Skipping through to the end of the album, he tells us ' the nights are made for us' and Richard, I'll spend a night listening to this record anytime.

h and my mum loves you too. And thinks that she knows you from the 50's/60's.