ALBUM REVIEW: Hamish Hawk – A Firmer Hand

So Recordings

Released: 16.08.24

As opening sentences go, “He said, ‘Death-wise, I wanna be cremated’” is quite a jump from the “Haven’t the foggiest” uncertainty of previous album Angel Numbers. Hamish Hawk‘s punchline reiterates that his work demands repeated listens to uncover all its pleasing subtleties – not just the elegance of his eloquence, but the contrast of deliberate pauses and sparse instrumentation (the beautiful Juliet as Epithet) against vibrant guitars (Men Like Wire, You Can Film Me) and some cocky conversational asides delivered in a delicious deadpan drawl. Questionable Hit’s sweet pop melody masks dark undertones; Machiavelli’s Room is extraordinary.

The unsettling yet triumphant sound of a band taking risks, their intriguing couplets and unnerving chords echo in the consciousness long after the music ends.