Hamish Hawk hits new heights
Not sure what Hamish Hawk has been having for breakfast lately but the Edinburgh artist’s new single ‘Caterpillar’ is a slice of turbo-charged brilliance
2 seconds in, instantly intrigued by a swaggering driving beat.
7 seconds, hooked. Head instantly nodding to an absolute beauty of a bass line. Hints of Gang of Four.
11 seconds, a low-flying flutter of jaggy guitars.
24 seconds, in comes the voice. ‘Spent the last three years asleep, a town called misery’.
It’s one of the best starts to a song I’ve heard in ages. In fact, maybe one of the best tracks I’ve heard in ages period. What makes it even more exciting is that it’s from Edinburgh.
It’s no wonder Hamish Hawk’s new single ‘Caterpillar’ has already had plays on BBC 6 Music from Steve Lamacq - it deserves to be heard at that level.
After that perfect start, the track just grows and grows, barrelling along urgently on that relentless beat and bass line, while Hamish Hawk whips up an intense atmosphere, reminding these ears of David Byrne, Nick Cave and Ian Curtis.
The lyrics are pretty bleak but it’s a perfect song for these weird times. There won’t be many who don’t recognise Hawk’s feelings of listlessness and ennui when sings about having ‘No time, no money, no energy’, ‘Not one single thing shakes, nothing seems to take’ and ‘Gosh, life is a drag’,
The refrain ‘Testing, testing, testing, testing’ says it all - we’re all being tested to our limits just now.
About 4 minutes in, it shifts up a gear and things get beautifully heavy.
Covid and the lockdown might have crippled some people’s creativity, but clearly Hamish Hawk has been busy. This new release is turbo-charged. It sounds like an artist finding his feet.
Hamish has been making music for several years, but this is dramatically different, it feels bigger and bolder. With Idlewild’s Rod Jones producing and a stunning video as well, there’s a real confidence and creative vision on display here.
There’s an album, ‘Heavy Elevator’, due later in the year. These are exciting times for Hamish Hawk - and for Edinburgh’s ever-eclectic music scene.