Photograph courtesy of Kirsten McTernan
Welsh gentleman troubadour H.Hawkline has a new EP on the way, ‘Black Domino Box’, out on August 27 via Trash Aesthetics, and it’s really rather good – have a listen to our exclusive stream of ‘Black Muck’ from the record below:
The EP has been co-produced by Gruff Rhys, who is also Hawkline’s “mentor”, and here he is giving us an introduction to the record: “H.Hawkline is the beatiest thing to emerge from Lundy Island since the 2007 Norovirus outbreak.
“The ‘Black Domino Box’ EP finds Mr Hawkline in a state of flux. Whereas his previous albums A Cup Of Salt and The Strange Uses Of Ox Gall [released on Cardiff’s most vital label; Shape], were vinyl exercises in Sandy Bull-powered finger-picking and field recordings, with only a pinch of songwriting, Hawkline has undergone a Dylanesque electrical epiphany, becoming a jangling guitar hero of 1983 to 1996 vintage in the process, simultaneously fully embracing, for the first time, The Song.
“This change is as dramatic as his move to the mainland (when the island was quarantined) where, in Cardiff, Wales, Hawkline makes a living playing shows, presenting an experimental late night radio show, painting and decorating, purveying the graphic arts and providing voice overs for dubious after hours products.
He emerged as a member of Means Heinz, Cardiff’s very own ‘Crucial 3’ which also boasted Cate Le Bon and Sweet Baboo in the lineup, disbanding after two shows, the members, including drummer (and emerging artist in his own right) R Seiliog, have all become prolific solo artists. They all return here to back up their friend on this astonishing EP.
“Lyrically, Hawkline channels his idol Richard Brautigan through a rough cement mixture of sludge rock, felt and seaweed, listing his possessions in his rented room in what is a poignant appraisal of a dispossessed generation of multi-tasking, rarely paid young musicians.”
H.Hawkline is also setting out on tour, supporting Cate Le Bon (apart from the Festival No. 6 date) – here are the shows:
SEPTEMBER
Thu 6 – Leaf, Liverpool
Fri 7 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Sat 8 – Captain’s Rest, Glasgow
Mon 10 – Cluny, Newcastle
Tue 11 – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester
Wed 12 – XOYO, London
Thu 13 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
Fri 14 – Festival No. 6, Port Meirion
Sat 15 – The Parrot, Carmarthen
