He's a musician entrenched in Sheffield's cultural fabric and exceptionally proud of his Steel City roots, but a northern English city isn't exactly what comes to mind when you think of Richard Hawley. For one, his uber-cool rock 'n' roll image is more suited to an extra from 'Rebel Without a Cause' in '50s Los Angeles; secondly, his singing voice - surely one of the best in modern music - shows no trace of Arctic Monkey-style cheeky-chappiness.
Of course, that has no bearing whatsoever on Hawley's musical output, except to say that 'Truelove's Gutter' continues the theme of naming his albums after Sheffield locations. It's also a title befitting the melancholic theme of this record; after the exceptionally well-rounded 'Lady's Bridge', most Hawley fans won't be expecting an album of long, meandering songs dealing in loss and heartache.
That doesn't mean that 'Truelove's Gutter' isn't a gem. It's heavy on atmosphere - as demonstrated on the terse opener 'As the Dawn Breaks' - but also heavy on earthy warmth and evocative imagery. Hawley's aforementioned croon is as beautiful a singing voice as you'll hear; it's rich, resonant and appealing to anyone without burlap sacks for ears, particularly fans of the likes of Billy Fury, Elvis, Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney, while Scott Walker is a name that'll also crop up upon hearing melancholy torch song 'For Your Lover, Give Some Time'.
Poise, elegance and grace abound on 'Truelove's Gutter'. Its slow and steady pace won't be for everyone, but allow these eight songs to hypnotise you, and you'll have one of the most enriching listening experiences of the year.
