Lady's Bridge
by Richard Hawley

Album details

US: 2 October 2007 on Mute
UK: 20 August 2007 on Mute

The Sheffield, England singer-songwriter (and former member of Pulp and Longpigs) returns with his fifth solo album, which follow’s the Mercury Prize-nominated "Coles Corner."

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The critical consensus

2005’s Coles Corner was Hawley’s breakthrough, not only selling well but also picking up a Mercury Prize nomination. Could Lady’s Bridge extend his success? It will if the critics have their say. Uncut finds Lady’s Bridge to be more of the same retro melancholy found on its predecessor–which, in this case, is a good thing. Amazon loves it: "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." The BBC, too, uses the word "timeless," stating that "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." Even NME can’t find anything bad to say about it; the weekly proclaims that "Lady’s Bridge is an album that has moments that won’t be bettered this year or any other: a clutch of songs which will be hitting tastemakers’ personal Top 10s for years to come."

Less glowing but still appreciative is BBC Collective, which finds the album "honest, wholesome and safe-as-houses." Dotmusic is a bit disappointed with the overfamiliarity of the material, adding, "while never less than easy on the ear, you do wish Hawley had The White Stripes’ facility for reinvention, or the capacity to do a Tom Waits circa "Raindogs" and take a left-turn in the road." Drowned In Sound disagrees, suggesting that the album’s "big, bold moments" amount to Hawley’s "most varied collection yet." Both that publication and MusicOMH also note a few songs that veer into rockabilly territory, which they find a welcome change of pace. The Independent notes that Nick Lowe-esque Lady’s Bridge "can get a touch bland in places," but otherwise enjoys the album, and offers a good description for Hawley’s 50s- and 60s-inspired genre: "relaxed antiquity." Mojo, however, decides that Hawley "sounds tired," resulting in "neutered rock’n'roll revivalism."

This is music to connect the generations: beautiful, moving pop at its best.

- Jude Rogers, The Guardian

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Valentine
2. Roll River Roll
3. Serious
4. Tonight The Streets Are Ours
   
   
5. Lady Solitude
6. Dark Road
7. The Sea Calls
8. Lady’s Bridge
9. I’m Looking For Someone To Find Me
10. Our Darkness
11. The Sun Refused To Shine

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Richard Hawley @ MySpace