A Review Of The Richard Hawley Instore From The Fly

Richard Hawley
Piccadilly Records
Manchester
22/09/2009
A record shop this full is a rarity these days. But between house 12”s, 7” singles and the indie/alt. albums stand a heaving mass. It’s hot and it’s crowded and, as the main attraction later confirms, serial nostalgist Stuart Maconie is loitering somewhere near the back. Easing through the throng Richard Hawley cuts a surreal figure; shaded despite the unrelenting Manchester skies and with THAT hair. In a set drawing predominantly from latest effort 'Truelove’s Gutter', he draws on pop culture’s heritage without a cloying nostalgia.
“Sorry for looking at the words folks, it’s just I did so much acid in the 80s that my memory is useless.” Not that it matters, we all saw Brian Wilson at Glastonbury right? Brain fried beyond comprehension, to the point idle chit-chat relied on autocue? What are a few reminders among friends… Opening with the fractured beauty of ‘As the Dawn Breaks’, Hawley is sedate; rich vocals crowned with tentative guitars creating lilting, broken lullabies. And there’s a ramshackle charm to his music in this setting. Stripped down but maintaining vitality, the arrangements are ornate and in their way rather beautiful. Yet at times beauty is overridden by the need for a little more pace or urgency; the doleful ‘Ashes On The Fire’ is a perfect example - lingering a little too long - and while Hawley’s charisma might distract from this at times, as his vocal subsides it slips dangerously close to loitering.
The intimacy Hawley creates throughout, though, is perfect – calm, understated, rich, subtle and well measured, the Piccadilly in-store really is an ideal showcase for the new record.
Will Metcalfe
www.the-fly.co.uk

September newsletter

Is it just me, or has this year flown by? It's nearly time for us to get cracking on our End Of Year Review - seems like we've only just finished the last one!

That should be out in November, all being well. In the mean time, our September newsletter is now available. (I reckon we'll manage to squeeze an October newsletter in too before the EOYR). This time around, there's a piece on this months featured artists, Yo La Tengo, along with tips on what releases are worth checking over the current month and info on what we're all listening to at the moment.

Pick up your free copy in store now!

If you order from us by mailorder, we should remember to put one in your bag, but mention it in the 'special instructions' when you place your order, just to remind us!

This Weeks Top 10 Presales - 31st Aug 2009

What all the cool kids are diggin' this week...


Yo La Tengo : Popular Songs
Brand new album and one we're really looking forward to from these perennial favourites. It's also available as an ultra limited Indies only deluxe edition.
The Durutti Column : Four Factory Records - Box Set
Limited to just 1175 copies this is a six CD box set including the first four albums and two bonus discs all remastered.
The Big Pink : A Brief History Of Love
The debut album and from what we've heard of promo it's ace, there's also a limited indie retailers vinyl edition.
Moon Duo : Love On The Sea
A limited repress of this superb 12" from Wooden Shjips' Ripley Johnson.
A Mountain Of One : Institute Of Joy
Set to be a big player in our end of year chart, this takes in hypnotic rock, pastoral folk, krautrock, gospel and life-affirming soul - in short, a record aiming straight for the heart.
Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions : Through The Devil
Long awaited second album from the voice of Mazzy Star. Another superb album of blissful acoustic instrumentation.
LCD Soundsystem : 45:33 Remixes
A superb collection of remixes all on one handy CD. Runaway, Prins Thomas, Theo Parrish, Trus'Me, Padded Cell, Pilooski and more.
The Cribs : Ignore The Ignorant - Roses Edition
An exclusive version of their latest album only available to shops in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Portland.
A Sunny Day In Glasgow : Ashes Grammar
Perfect dreamy pop again from A Sunny Day In Glasgow, their second album.
Vivian Girls : Everything Goes Wrong
Second album from the girls, and another contender for the end of year best of lists, their influences include The Ramones, 60s girl groups, surf and indie pop - and that perfectly describes their music.

Richard Hawley Live Instore

Almost exactly four years ago (6 Sept 2005 to be precise), Richard Hawley played here in Piccadilly Records to promote his "Cole’s Corner" album.
We are very excited to announce that he is set to return on Tuesday 22nd September at 4pm, to play a few songs from his wonderful new album "Truelove’s Gutter".
Hopefully he will have enough time to sign copies of the new album too - but he has got to dash off to do some radio, so we can’t promise anything.
He played to a packed shop last time, and his reputation and following has grown considerably since then. For that reason, although it is a free event, you will need a ticket to attend this performance. Ask in store about availability.
Both the limited edition vinyl and the CD are now available to pre-order - LP £23.99 / CD £12.49.

Update on the Thom Yorke - "All For The Best" 7"

We have now sold out of our mailorder allocation of this 7".
If you've not yet evolved into some sort of half mammal half chair creature from spending too long sitting infront of a screen and can get to our shop, then we will have a limited number of copies available to buy on the day of release - Monday 7th September.
Sorry if you missed out, but there were only 400 of this pressed.
If you're still desperate to get hold of the track, you could always buy the "Ciao, My Shining Star" compilation album.

****************PLEASE NOTE - RELEASE DATE CHANGE***************

The 7" release has been put back to 14th September, album 21st September.

Records Store Day 2009

Check out this short film that was recorded in our shop on Record Store Day last April. The guys were outside the shop bright and early and hung around all morning to compiled this nice bit of footage about the day.






If you came along to Record Store Day let us know what you thought of it!

We had a great time!!!

This Weeks Top 10 Presales - 24th Aug 09

Here's a choice selection of the current big presales here at Piccadilly towers.

Thom Yorke : All For The Best

New recording from the Radiohead man - a unique cover version of a Mark Mulcahy track. This will not last long so pre-order to guarantee yours

Yo La Tengo : Popular Songs

Brand new album and one we're really looking forward to from these perennial favourites. It's also available as an ultra limited Indies only deluxe edition

The Durutti Column : Four Factory Records - Box Set

Limited to just 1175 copies this is a six CD box set including the first four albums and two bonus discs all remastered

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Come Saturday / Side Ponytail

Everyone's favourite indie revivalists return with the last single to be taken their superb debut album

Moon Duo : Love On The Sea

A limited repress of this superb 12" from Wooden Shjips' Ripley Johnson

A Mountain Of One : Institute Of Joy

Set to be a big player in our end of year chart, this takes in hypnotic rock, pastoral folk, krautrock, gospel and life-affirming soul - in short, a record aiming straight for the heart

Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions : Through The Devil

Long awaited second album from the voice of Mazzy Star. Another superb album of blissful acoustic instrumentation

The Cribs : Ignore The Ignorant - Roses Edition

An exclusive version of their latest album only available to shops in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Portland

A Sunny Day In Glasgow : Ashes Grammar

Perfect dreamy pop again from A Sunny Day In Glasgow, their second album

Vivian Girls : Everything Goes Wrong

Second album from the girls, and another contender for the end of year best of lists, their influences include The Ramones, 60s girl groups, surf and indie pop - and that perfectly describes their music.