Hawley, a former member of Pulp, ditched the high energy of his “Common People” past and has opted for more of a quiet troubadour persona of late. He’s been making gorgeous folk albums for a few years now, yet to very little fanfare, which is a shame.
“Coles Corner” is Hawley’s third album and is rather hard to pin down into a certain form or genre. Throughout, he manages to dip into old-school doo-wop sounds, grand orchestral ballads and Johnny Cash-inspired country anthems, not at the same time, but almost within their own little worlds.
As with much of Hawley’s previous work, here he writes love letters to people, as well as his hometown of Sheffield. The title cut is an ode to his favorite hang out, a pub where he swears many people have met for pints, fell in love, and had their hearts broken. “Coles Corner” is the soundtrack for all these experiences and then some.