ALBUM REVIEWS: PALOMA FAITH and RICHARD HAWLEY
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Paloma Faith
Do You Want The Truth Or Something Else?
Epic
★★★★☆
Burlesque performer, magician's assistant, actress and art school alumni, Paloma's magpie-like approach to careers finally reaches the music industry. Leaping into action with the breathlessly brilliant, confident slab of soul-pop Stone Cold Sober, it sounds like Paloma's already harnessed another talent to add to the list. Boasting vocals halfway between Amy Winehouse's soul and Shingai Shoniwa of The Noisettes' feline playfulness, Paloma's debut mostly rides on catchy, classic soul refrains updated with a sweet, spunky kick, except where a charming vulnerability is exposed on the sweeping My Legs Are Weak. All this is topped off with her leftfield dress sense and towering hairdo, making for an enticing package.
Richard Hawley
Truelove's Gutter
Mute
★★★★☆
Still bequiffed, bespectacled and downcast, Richard Hawley's sixth album reveals him still knocking out gut-wrenching tales of regret with his heart on his sleeve. If nothing else, Sheffield's first citizen of failure makes you wonder just how much bad luck and bitterness it's possible for one downtrodden wretch to take. He must self-medicate by writing songs. There are some truly beautiful moments, lush and haunting, across these eight tracks - making the guitar reverb on Remorse Code almost poetic. But unlike 2005's Coles Corner which found him fame, Truelove's Gutter elegantly mopes along largely without standout moments, save for Soldier On. But it retains a quiet, strangely uplifting dignity.
- STEPHEN MOORE
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