Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - Hawk

  by Lisa Torem

published: 4 / 9 / 2010

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Review

Polar opposites, in personality and vocal textures, but kindred souls in the studio, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, have embarked on their third collaboration, ‘Hawk.’ Glasgow girl Campbell co-wrote the chart-climbing “Legal Man”, played cello, keys and sung vocals with Belle and Sebastian from 1996 and 2002. In 2003, Campbell released a debut under her own name after producing an album of Billie Holliday tunes in 2002 with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells. Then, after leaving Belle and Sebastian, which she had formed with her then boyfriend Stuart Murdoch in her teens, she caught on to LA-based Lanegan, former Screaming Trees/Queen of the Stone Age frontman. The pair’s debut, 'Ballad of the Broken Seas' (2006), overflowed with dark, tortuous themes that surprisingly paralleled Campbell’s misty and Lanegan’s musty vocals. The sequel, two years later,' Sunday at Devil Dirt,' dug more below the surface, wielding sharp blues and roots. Now, presenting ‘Hawk,’ the two throw themselves completely into folk-ballad, Americana and swatches of gospel and blues. ‘We Die and See Beauty Reign’ is awash with rambling guitar sweeps immaculately executed aside Campbell and Lanegan’s paired vocals. ‘You Won’t Let Me Down Again’ is fringed with pathos and driven by calloused blues. Campbell co-wrote these first two with songwriter McCulloch and ‘Snake Song’ and ‘No Place to Fall’ with the prolific Townes Van Zandt. ‘Snake Song’ aptly named has a slithery melody echoed by plentiful passages of rootsy strings. Campbell’s contralto resonates pleasingly with Lanegan’s booming baritone. “Got me on my knees/tearing up my heart” are lines that twist your heart and spiral out of ‘Come Undone.’ It incorporates 50's style piano supported by dissonant strings and a tearful narrative, further explored by streaks of organ. Produced by Campbell, 'Hawk' wisely keeps vocals the major focus. There are no extraneous sound bytes or overly lush distractions here. ‘No Place to Fall’ finds Lanegan exclaiming, “If I had no place to fall, could I count on you to lay me down,” which he convincingly pleads. Van Zandt’s lyrical influence makes a strong impact on this structurally exquisite ballad. ‘Get Behind Me’ wanders into some more funky nooks and crannies, even breaking down some Rockabilly barriers with its instrumental chug-a-lug and infectious Chuck Berry meets garage band in a time warp. ‘Time of the Season’ is the quintessential confessional ladled with rhythmic word salad. “You know I’ve been with dirty dogs and kissing frogs,” whispers Campbell. “With your embrace/I found my place,” licks the chops clean. ‘Hawk’ is a thunderous sky bursting with cacaphony. A heavy bass trudges tirelessly along the horizon amid swirling brass. Campbell shows off her tender range in ‘Sunrise’ which is backed by steely strums and wistful words, “Sunrise catch a falling star…” ‘To Hell and Back Again’ is somehow mellow, but equal parts painful, a lonely abyss widened by longing. ‘Cool Water’ has innocent, but detailed lyrics. “My backyard is full of hand-me-downs,” we discover. ‘Eyes of Green’ is enhanced by an influx of Cajun/Zydeco charm and ‘Lately’ sprouts Lanegan’s whiskey-hewn, splendidly cavalier tone in this “ramblin’ man’s” homage. An unexpected R & B crescendo wraps up this closing song. Overall, lots of blood and guts take flight in 'Hawk'. The album offers a compelling bird’s-eye view that captures the complexities of life, love and loneliness.

Track Listing:-

1 We Die and See Beauty Reign
2 You Won't Let Me Down Again
3 Snake Song
4 Come Undone
5 No Place to Fall
6 Get Behind Me
7 Time of the Season
8 Hawk
9 Sunrise
10 To Hell & Back Again
11 Cool Water
12 Eyes of Green
13 Lately