TRACK REVIEW: James Leonard Hewitson – Stable

Image by Nick Wesson

Arriving hot on the heels of last year’s fantastic Commercial Vibe EP, the latest release from Hartlepool’s finest James Leonard Hewitson is another profound evolution of his singular sound which explores the “low key madness of emotional unavailability, in the hope to make it all a little less frightening”.

The subject matter is brilliantly served by the unpredictable and thrilling left-turns that the song takes, with a taut and tense synth arpeggio and a breezy motorik drumbeat being the only constants in the gloriously shape-shifting arrangement which builds up to a noisy cacophony. All in all, it’s a welcome addition to a songbook that merges infectious hooks, relentlessly entertaining experimentation and a fantastic command of the craft. An essential listen.