Under The Influence

Richard Hawley has always shown a penchant for writing deeply evocative and emotional songs about places, people, and situations. His first couple of recordings, especially 'Lowedges', reflected his obsession with lushly orchestrated pop songs and a production style that extended a song far beyond its margins and into the listener's world with a near visual sensibility.

On 'Truelove's Gutter', Hawley has dug the well much deeper and brought forth a spring of new ideas in his singing, writing, and production, but paradoxically, has done so with less.

The album is more sparse than anything he's released. Its eight songs have a decidedly late-night feel. The grand sweeping orchestral strings of his last two albums have been replaced by a chamber section and odd instrumentation that add real intimacy to the proceedings.

These songs reflect his own experiences, or the trials and tribulations of friends. His gorgeous melodies shine through brighter in songs that are nakedly tender and unflinching yet are musically more sophisticated, adding to their depth of field.

"Open Up Your Door" (featured here) would be just a pop song were it not for lyrical concerns underscored by the only orchestral arrangement on the set: it's a plea for reconciliation by a husband who confesses and owns his shortcomings, while professing his all-consuming love for his spouse in the wake of a dispute as strings swell and punctuate them in the bridge.

The melody is infectious, and Hawley's soaring baritone evokes the power of Roy Orbison's tenor.

'Truelove's Gutter' is a singular moment in Hawley's catalog that displays the maturity of all his gifts. It is quietly passionate, graceful, elegant, utterly moving, and unequivocally beautiful in its honesty and sophistication. He's realized an ambition here that is artful and singular.

A great cover of a great song. Madge's pop anthem reimagined into distortion, reverb and sonic schizophrenia. Lovely.

Spike Jonze's wonderful interpretation of the fabled children's story 'Where The Wild Things Are' needed a strong soundtrack to accompany the trip into the imagination of Max, the lead character.

Luckily, he passed the responsibility to his ex-girlfriend, Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs). She has come up with a wonderful record, full of childlike wonder. 2 tracks stand out for me. 'Hideaway', with it's gentle rolling melody evoking the crashing of waves on the shore, and the lead single 'All Is Love' (featured here).

Jonze wanted the soundtrack to have a similar feel to the Langley Schools Music Project (go here for more information), and with 'All Is Love', Karen O has more than succeeded. Using an untrained children's choir coupled with joyful lyrics, just listening to the chorus will melt the coldest heart. Under the right circumstances, if you listen to this song you'll probably start to cry with happiness.

Never has a song been sung with such joy and love. One, Two, Ready, Go!!

When I found myself chatting to Wayne Coyne before a Lips gig last year, he mentioned that the band were going to cut a cover-to-cover version of Pink Floyd's classic 'Dark Side of The Moon'. I was interested in how this was going to sound, but I didn't have to wait very long to hear the finished result.

Wayne's nephew (Dennis) and his band Stardeath & White Dwarfs help out, as do Canadian singer Peaches, and Henry Rollins. The result is (in the opinion of your reviewer), a great interpretation of a classic album, and I realise that after listening to it, this may turn many music lovers against The Lips.

Stick with it, listen to it again. You might end up liking it.

A truly lovely record, 'Hazards of Love' brings the rock opera format bang up to date. Drawing on influences as diverse as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention, this record tells the tale of a maiden knocked up by a shape–shifting beast who may be her future husband. There's also a psychotic queen and three revenge–seeking ghost kids to keep a look out for.

Grab a seat in front of the fire, stoke your Meerschaum pipe and take a trip.