Richard Hawley - Standing at the Sky's Edge (2012) review

Richard Hawley “Standing at the Sky’s Edge” (Parlophone, 2012)

Without dropping his romantic persona, Hawley takes a step
both sideways and back, harking visions of his neo-psychedelic, neo-hippy days
with Longpigs; where he shares the half drenched druggy and forgotten guitar
images made famous by Oasis and The Verve.
Also, much like The Verve, the release has the gentle feel of a concept
album, where the songs are interlaced, with lyrics and vocals that simmer just
below the surface. It’s a broad step for
this out of time artist, one who sports a rock-a-billy image, and delivers
earthbound sagas, that while channeling the spirit of Roy Orbison, never manage
to climb to those soaring vocal heights … and to that end, he never manages
to allow his guitar to soar to the altitudes delivered by The Verve on say,
“Valium Skies.”

Hewley has described Standing At The Sky’s Edge as his loud
album, but I rather think that’s an after thought to justify something that’s
not there. What is there is a mix of
political commentary and the unfolding of a bleak world most of us would rather
turn away from, delivered in the homespun manner of a man who’s still sounding
the warning, even as he refuses to see all that’s tumbling around him.

While the first track, “She Brings The Sunlight,” sets the
stage for a splendid ride, things get musically out of hand rather quickly,
where the second track ushers in an intense bottom that feels uncomfortable and
unforgiving … and it’s not until the fifth track “Seek It,” that we’re face
to face with the Richard Hawley we all know and love. I wanted to be enraptured by this album, and
in the end, I feel that I’ve been left out in the wind, without a substantial
breeze to move me in any direction at all.

Review made by Jenell Kesler/2014