Lights On Kinks Out
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
Though this is Bobby Hawk’s debut solo album, the multi-instumentalist has a long history playing alongside Abigail Washburn and Noam Pikelny, among others.
While he’s primarily spent time navigating the fiddle, Lights On Kinks Out has the Brooklyn resident transitioning to guitar, saxophone and violin with very eclectic, accomplished results.
The title track starts the listen with Hawk’s smooth baritone vocals on a warm, melodic opener, and “Let Things Go”, with Ana Egge, follows with a breathy delivery of ethereal sounds on the soft jazz influenced tune.
In the middle, “The One” offers soft acoustic strumming in the cautious Americana and folk flavored setting, while “Future Strangers” flows with a sparse setting of atmospheric beauty that parallels the greatness achieved by Elliott Smith.
Near the end, “Away We Go” brings a percussive strong, louder tune of playful dynamics, and “Hammer” emits a jangly display of indie-rock where piano courtesy of Seth Glier adds much to the formula. “Carry Me Through” ends the listen restrained and emotive with clarinet, as traces of country linger amid the catharsis.
Ultimately a break up album, Hawk has an impressive cast supporting him, including Colin Jalbert, Darby Wolf and Alec Spiegelman, to name a few, and together they really illuminate this pensive, intimate and adventurous effort.
Travels well with: Richard Buckner- Our Blood; Ana Egge- Is It The Kiss