Recorded at SheffieldÔÇÖs Yellow Arch Studio, ÔÇÿHollow MeadowsÔÇÖ is Richard HawleyÔÇÖs love song to the best of ballroom ballads; he touches on romance, on days gone by, and on growing old. The album reflects HawleyÔÇÖs clear maturity in the studio with elements of country in ÔÇÿSerenade Of BlueÔÇÖ and a more ballsy rock feel to ÔÇÿWhich WayÔÇÖ, he spans the genres and does so with confidence, providing a record thatÔÇÖs rarely boring. The Arctic MonkeysÔÇÖ Alex Turner has been touted as the natural successor as SheffieldÔÇÖs poet of crooning romance but with ÔÇÿHollow MeadowsÔÇÖ, Hawley shows us heÔÇÖs not handing over his title easily.

The album is full of appearances by notable Sheffield luminaries and HawleyÔÇÖs friends. Jarvis Cocker of Pulp fame features on the aptly named ÔÇÿNothing Like A FriendÔÇÖ, and as ever, guitarist and friend Shez Sheridan allows Hawley room to craft beautiful melodies. ÔÇÿI Still Want YouÔÇÖ also benefits from Nancy KerrÔÇÖs soft viola in contrast to Richard HawleyÔÇÖs increasingly gravelly voice. Several tracks towards the end of the album tail off the intensity which good music brings, which is a shame, and they pass by without notice before he pulls up the tempo again with a gorgeous track in ÔÇÿHeart of OakÔÇÖ, which channels a later David Bowie feel with a Morrissey-esque twang.

ÔÇÿHollow MeadowsÔÇÖ is a great album, and a very good introduction to Richard HawleyÔÇÖs more refined style. Gone are the chugging guitar riffs of his album ÔÇÿStanding At The SkyÔÇÖs EdgeÔÇÖ from 2012, and here Hawley gives good reasons as to why he is still as relevant today as he was ten years ago.

JOE STOCKLEY