Darren Hayman - January Songs

by Andy Cassidy

published: 28 / 1 / 2012

Label: Belka Records
Format: CD X2

intro

Remarkably creative and consistent double album of songs from Darren Hayman, who set himself the challenge of writing and recording a new song every day over the month of January last year

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I hate January. It’s a long, cold, dark month, and it seems like summer will never come. Last January, Darren Hayman decided to set himself a challenge, the challenge being to write and record a new song every day throughout the month. A year later, and the finished album has been released – all thirty-one tracks of it. I admit, I have a soft spot for this type of concept album. I loved the Magnetic Fields 'I' and '69 Love Songs', and Thomas Truax’s “song per month” project of last year. 'January Songs', however, appealed to me more than the others, as I saw it as the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas blues. The album opens with 'It was Over', a poppy piano number with lyrical flashes reminiscent of Morrissey. The track is an intriguing piece, juxtaposing the sorrow of a break-up with a jaunty, upbeat backing. Melody-wise, second track 'Bad Technology' is a fantastic bass-driven piece with some excellent vocal harmonies and a superbly executed production. The album changes tack with 'Isle of Eigg', with a heavier, electric backing track and a vocal by ballboy's Gordon McIntyre before moving on to the Leonard Cohen-esque acoustic guitar backed 'Hold Back the Clock'. What I enjoyed most about this album is that the quality of the songwriting does not diminish over the course of the thirty-one songs as one might expect. Clearly, Hayman has a great reservoir of inspiration to draw from. I was also very impressed by the stylistic difference between one song and another – again, Hayman’s inventiveness is to be commended. The physical release of the album in keeping with this spirit of invention. The double CD is limited to 1500 copies, each of them featuring unique cover art drawn personally by Hayman. 'January Songs' is an album which has a great deal to offer. The scale of the recording is testament to Hayman’s creativity flitting effortlessly between genres. Because of the album’s variety, there is something for everyone. The guest artists (Allo Darlin, te Wave Pictures, Terry Edwards, ballboy and others beside) have been superbly selected and add considerably to the quality of the LP as a whole. That said, this is very much Hayman’s album and he is the true star of the show. This is an album of modesty, restraint, and exceptional creativity. Everything about it appealed to me, from the concept to the music to the hand-drawn cover art. If this album is a snapshot of what Darren Hayman is capable, then I fully expect to hear a great deal about him in the future.

Track Listing:-

1 It Was Over
2 Bad Technology
3 We're Staying In
4 Isle Of Eigg
5 Hold Back The Clock
6 Nothing At All
7 Esplanade Drive
8 Old Man Hands
9 I Can't Control Myself
10 I Know I Fucked Up
11 You Can't Tell Her Anything
12 My Bedroom
13 My Dirty Widow
14 Who Hung The Monkey?
15 Britain In Bloom
16 Let Me Sleep
17 Arthur The Dog
18 The Return
19 No Different For Girls
20 I Want To Be A Volunteer
21 Shh...
22 Baby, Be Good To Me
23 Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad Girl
24 Ventriloquism
25 Forest Blues
26 Let Out The Sides
27 I Can Keep A Secret
28 I Won The Girl
29 My Miniature Band
30 We're Tired Of Gettin Dicked Around
31 My Dream Train

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darren-Hayman/55543614047
http://www.hefnet.com/

Label Links:-

http://cargorecordsdirect.co.uk/collections/belka

interviews

Interview (2020)

As he prepared for the release of 'Home Time', his 17th album, Darren Hayman speaks to Ben Howarth about his most personal album and his reflections on the end of his epic, award-winning 'Thankful Villages' project.

Interview (2012)

Interview (2009)

Interview (2007)

live reviews

Brudenell, Leeds, 24/6/2011

Helen Tipping enjoys a night of acoustic rock and razor sharp humour from former Hefner front man Darren Hayman at a solo show at the Brudenell in Leeds

Camden Head and Bush Hall, London, 19/10/2010...23/11/2010

Lexington, London, 5/3/2009

Luminaire, London, 30/3/2008

Luminaire, London, 12/11/2007

features

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2014)

In 'Ten Songs that Made Me Love...', Ben Howarth writes of his favourite songs by singer-songwriter and ex-Hefner front man, Darren Hayman

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

soundcloud

reviews

12 Astronauts (2019)

New collection of songs by Darren Hayman celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings by sharing a very personal perspective of the twelve men who have walked on the moon

Thankful Villages Volume 3 (2018)

Thankful Villages Volume 1 (2016)

Florence (2015)

Chants for Socialists (2015)

The Ship's Piano (2011)

Great British Holiday EPs (2008)