Standing At The Sky’s Edge

For the last few years, Britpop warrior Richard Hawley has been making a name for himself as a bequiffed crooner who conjures a fine line in lovelorn laments. Hell, his salacious ’09 single ‘Open Up Your Door’ even caused something of a baby-boom around Europe as soon as it was released (okay, that can’t be scientifically proven, but to rob a line from Brass Eye, it is still a fact). So, in many ways, it comes as a surprise to see the former member of both the Longpigs and Pulp ditch his über-successful silky nu-lounge lizard styles in favour of a spacey, sprawling, psychedelic sound for album number six Standing At The Sky’s Edge.
Opening with the reverb-laden ‘She Brings The Sunlight,’ Hawley’s clearly ripped up any existing blueprints for this record. ‘Leave Your Body Behind’ and ‘Time Will Bring You Winter’ rock with the best of them, in a trippy, astral kinda way. The highlight, however, is the pounding ‘Down In The Woods’, which calls to mind George Harrison, Nebula, Spiritualized and even latter-day Glenn Danzig. ‘The Wood Collier’s Grave’ is another standout and will perhaps be more familiar territory for old-school fans who miss Hawley’s haunting ballads. The style-shift may shock some of the former smooth operator’s followers, but life would be very boring indeed without risk. Standing At The Sky’s Edge is the work of an artist of substance and invention.