Track Listing

1. Something Is
2. Baby You're My Light
3. Love Of My Life
4. The Nights Are Cold
5. Can You Hear The Rain, Love?
6. Lonely Night
7. Precious Sight
8. No Way Home
9. Cry A Tear For The Man In The Moo
10. Long Black Train
11. The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4987 in Music
• Released on: 2001-10-15
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
Richard Hawley may have been best known as a guitarist for the likes of Beth Orton, Pulp, and others, but his first solo album LATE NIGHT FINAL firmly establishes his identity as a compelling singer/songwriter. Much of the album is occupied by dark, moody, late-night tracks where Hawley's Scott Walker-meets-Tindersticks voice hangs languorously over spare but elegant arrangements. Despite his downcast cabaret tendencies, though, Hawley is a popster at heart, and a number of songs here could very conceivably have been recorded 30 years ago by the likes of Harry Nilsson or Glen Campbell in thatgolden age of US pop radio. Hawley's songs are unburdened by overworked metaphor, instead relying on simple, evocative images to paint pictures of loss, despondency, and the occasional romantic ray of hope shining through the dimness.

Customer Reviews

Simply Fantastic first full solo effort
This is a fantastic full album debut from Hawley, following on from his mini-album released last year. When you here his voice from the opening bars of "Something is..." you wonder why he let someone else take the lead vocals in his previous carnation as guitarist in brit-poppers The Longpigs. His voice is part Frank Sinatra, part Ian McCullogh with a bit of Scott Walker thrown in occasionally for good measure. With succintly written lyric and some brilliant tunes as well as the voice which would carry a much lesser album. At times serious, but at times more tongue in cheek, especially on the final track, the wonderfully named "The Light at the End of the Tunnel (was a train coming the other way)".

One of the best albums of 2001.
This album is a stunner. Other people have compared his style to McCullogh, Sinatra. I'd throw Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash and Chris Isaac in there too. Such a variety is no bad thing as the end result is truly original, and the quality of songs brilliant. The single 'Baby you're my light' is an old fashioned and timeless classic, and the obvious hit on the album. 'Long Black Train' and 'Love of my life' are just two of the standout tracks, but every track is good and it's not often you can say that about an album. I've played this CD to several friends and all of them have bought it. It's a real grower and I cant wait for the next album.

It's all too beautiful....
There is nothing bad to be said about this album.
It contains beautiful songs, beautifully played and sung, that happen to be beautifully written.
It's as if Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Paul Heaton met over a beer and made a beautiful album.
As near a perfect album as we can get in this day and age.