''Lowedges'' is the third studio album from musician

Richard Hawley Richard Willis Hawley (born 17 January 1967) is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. After his first band Treebound Story (formed while he was still at school) broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Long ...

. It was released in the UK in February 2003 by

Setanta Records Setanta Records was a British independent record label led by founder Keith Cullen. Setanta published UK and Irish indie music in the late 1980s and in the 1990s. History Setanta Records was started in a Camberwell, London squat by former bicyc ...

. It is named after a district in Hawley's home city of

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

Release history

Critical reception

The album received very favourable reviews from most critics. Drowned in Sound called the album "sublime" and said "this album is up there with the Scott Walkers, Dylans and any other late night songsmith of the last fifty years. Solely, it is about the songs; eleven pure and sophisticated tales of love and lamentation."

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

said that ''Lowedges'' "retains all the virtues that made his debut long-player... such an out-of-left-field stunner: the late-night atmosphere, the subtle yet dramatic arrangements, Hawley's deep and expressive vocals, and, above all, the low-key and catchy songs that will have you remembering past loves, glory days, and autumn nights... He doesn't make a false step on this album. Most likely it will be overlooked by the masses, but that's OK. They don't deserve to be hip to such a wonderfully intimate and, well, wonderful artist and record."

BBC Music BBC Music is the arm of the BBC responsible for the music played across its services. The current director of music is Lorna Clarke. Officially it is a part of the BBC's Radio operational division; however, its remit also includes music used i ...

described it as "melodic songwriting at its best and a pleasure to listen to". '' Q'' stated that ''Lowedges "kitsch-free excellence confirms Hawley as a balladeer of the very highest order".

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...

described Hawley as "a master at crafting melodies so simple, so memorable, it makes your heart melt" and said "rarely does feeling so hopeless and sad ever sound so enticing. Perfect for quiet, rainy nights, this album is easily one of 2003's finest buried treasures."

MusicOMH ''MusicOMH'' (stylized as ''musicOMH'') is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B. History ''MusicOMH'' was founded an ...

had some reservations, being "slightly disappointed" and saying "some of these songs could have been better developed... But there are lovely moments".

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Richard Hawley, except where noted. # "Run for Me" – 4:07 # "Darlin'" – 3:33 # "Oh My Love" – 3:46 # "The Only Road" – 5:42 # "On the Ledge" – 3:20 # " You Don't Miss Your Water (Till Your River Runs Dry)" ( William Bell, Richard Hawley) – 4:56 # "The Motorcycle Song" – 2:57 # "It's Over Love" – 2:46 # "I'm on Nights" – 3:25 # "Danny" – 3:50 # "The Nights Are Made for Us" – 2:42 ;Bonus tracks (Japanese version)

"Sick Pay" – 4:41
"Cheap Spanish Whine" – 3:22

Personnel

*Elizabeth Ball – violin *Ali Heath Cook – backing vocals *Andy Cook – drums *Alice Coulam – backing vocals *Colin Elliot – electric bass, upright bass, piano,

Mellotron The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a Capstan (tape recorder), capstan, which pulls i ...

, glockenspiel, vibraphone, percussion, backing vocals *Simon Graham – violin *Liz Hanks - viola *

– lead vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, glockenspiel,

Fender Rhodes The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, t ...

Omnichord The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument introduced in 1981 by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. It allows users to play distinctive harp-like arpeggios produced through an electronic strum plate, simulating the experience of ...

, Hawaiian lap steel guitar, lyre, vibraphone, percussion *Rachel Jones – viola *Naomi Koop – viola *Shez Sheridan – guitars, drones, backing vocals *Simon Stafford – keyboards *John Visanji – violin

References

{{Authority control 2003 albums Richard Hawley albums Music in Sheffield Setanta Records albums