HAMISH HAWK – "Intriguer/Tenderness" / "Ice Like Empty"

Review by Anna C for Return To Sound

I can’t believe Hamish Hawk is only 34 years old. He sounds like he has lived nine lives and then some. His extremely deep vocal can only be described as haunting, his lyrics are cutting and his influences are vintage. Citing Talking Heads, Pulp and The Libertines as contemporaries, Hawk sits most firmly in the guitar rock/indie camp but still manages to span a melting pot of genres. This apparent split personality is why he has chosen two releases from his forthcoming album.

Intriguer/Tenderness is the title track, which is somewhat reminiscent of fellow Scots The Twilight Sad, a synth-driven and atmospheric, almost menacing, anthem; an intense, eerie

battle cry that is in stark contrast to the other single, Ice Like Empty. A bit more on the optimistic side - at least musically for its hooky chorus - another of Hawk’s influences are Franz Ferdinand, which is obvious here, fused with a faint homage to Morrissey. While Hawk’s originality is predominantly in his performance and persona (one YouTuber put it perfectly when they said ‘the suit and the stare is back’), his whole-package approach to creativity definitely commands attention, which he will no doubt get when he makes his long-playing return in April next year.

In support of the new album, Hamish and his band will play the following of instore and out-store dates:

Friday 2nd April - Rough Trade East, London

Saturday 3rd April - Resident, Brighton

Sunday 4th April - Banquet, Kingston @ Circuit

Monday 5th April - Rough Trade, Bristol

Tuesday 6th April - Rough Trade, Nottingham

Wednesday 7th April - Jacaranda Baltic, Liverpool

Thursday 8th April - Crash, Leeds @ Wardrobe

Thursday 22nd April - Assai, Glasgow @ Saint Lukes

Friday 23rd April - Assai, Edinburgh @ La Belle Angele

Saturday 24th April - Assai, Aberdeen @ The Tunnels

Tickets are on sale HERE.

CREDIT: JODIE MANN