For those lucky enough to hear it, HAWKSLEY WORKMAN'S debut album "For Him And The Girls" announced the arrival of a singular talent.
Over the course of that first, near-60 minute opus, he covered a bewildering array of styles, only occasionally veering into pastiche or self-indulgence.
The follow-up is similarly eclectic, yet more manageable, clocking in just under 40 minutes, but there are fewer moments approaching musical genius than the first time out. That's not to say "The Delicious Wolves" is a let down (even if the title's a bit ridiculous), as it's a decent album, but not the all-conquering every-track-a-stunner classic some might have been expecting.
Development is something of a key word in this case. This reviewer is very familiar with Hawksley's debut, and it strikes me that every track on the new release has a counterpart on the last. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but occasionally one gets the feeling Hawksley has too many styles to choose from. There is even a certain element of showing off; or - perhaps in his desire to please his audience - Hawksley has decided to dazzle with his versatility as opposed to honing his art and forsaking show for a little more substance.
Of course, Hawksley is an entertainer first, but the emotional weight which made songs like "Safe And Sound" and "Don't Be Crushed" so memorable on "For Him And The Girls" wouldn't go amiss if it shone through more often.
If this sounds unfairly dismissive of the new work, then it should be stated that there are some real gems for the curious listener. "Jealous Of Your Cigarette" has a singalong chorus to catch in your head for weeks, even if the verse imagery is a tad over-cooked (e.g: "No muscle man, no candy cane, no pack of sexy starving wolves"). "You, Me And The Weather" also has a hook or two, and comes closest to the lovelorn romanticism of the previously mentioned stand outs from the debut.
"Your Beauty Must Be Rubbing Off" has become something of a personal favourite, particularly after seeing it performed live when he conquered Cork's Lobby Bar a few weeks back. And I must also admit to holding a fondness for the Glam disco-isms of the opener "Striptease."
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In fact, Hawksley's live renditions of most of the new LP tracks easily held their own with the older material, which suggests "The Delicious Wolves" might have been recorded and released a bit too soon (it's been out in his home Canadian territory for almost a year now).
Or it might be that in person Hawksley finds it easier to convey emotion which set the live versions of songs like "Old Bloody Orange" and "No Beginning, No End" apart from their recorded counterparts. The in-concert experience also allows Hawksley to get away with the theatrics of "Dirty And True". Sadly, on record this sounds too much like Freddie Mercury and the boys at their most overblown and bombastic for this reviewer's liking.
If you're looking to investigate this special talent for the first time, "For Him And The Girls" is probably a safer bet, but if you're already familiar with Hawksley Workman, by all means get your hands on "(Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves" as there are some essential additions to his repertoire.
Even though it might not entirely fulfil all expectations, fans will continue to anticipate new developments in this young star's career with interest. In the meantime, if you discover he's playing in your vicinity, don't hesitate to go along. The Hawksley Workman live experience is one you won't regret.
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