Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan : Hawk :: Review

Mark Lanegan has found his perfect foil in Scottish chanteuse Isobel Campbell and the same could be said of her on their latest album “Hawk” which features a double billing. Lanegan and Campbell have perfected their Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra style of songwriting and the sound is more reflective of collaboration than their previous effort “Ballad of the Broken Seas” which felt ham-fisted in spots.  If you’re a fan of Lanegan’s output, consider yourself lucky, as “Hawk” is more of a representative effort after his woefully underused stint as the other half of Greg Dulli’s tacky Gutter Twins.  “Hawk” was self-produced by Isobel Campbell who seems to have taken note of Lanegan’s style of well worn Americana.  “Hawk” also features guest spots by rising folk singer Willy Mason on two tracks as well as James Iha and jazz musician Bill Wells.

“Hawk” opens with the morose and pensive lullaby led by Campbell, “We Die and See Beauty Reign” which sets the somber tone for the album.  “Hawk” makes no slips and carefully sets itself as an album of regret and half filled promises, familiar territory for both songwriters.  A sort of reckoning occurs early in the album on “You Won’t Let Me Down Again,” which comes fueled with as many of James Iha’s jagged guitar bits as possible.  From that point in the album, things become decidedly more interesting with the cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Snake Song” and the string laced knock out duet of “Come Undone” which has more sass than half of the pop that is topping the charts.  Rather than try to immediately top this number, Willy Mason makes his first appearance on the album with another Townes Van Zandt cover, “No Place To Fall.”  Mason sounds like a young Duane Allman and the duet works and adds diversity to the album.

The ragged country of Lanegan’s “Get Behind Me” and bittersweet affection of “Time of the Season” feels pale when compared to the boot stomping bluesy juggernaut of self-titled instrumental track “Hawk” which features a wild saxophone and guitar solo.  Isobel Campbell goes solo on the lilting “Sunrise” and the twee country lament of “To Hell & Back Again.” Willy Mason returns to duet with Campbell on the loping and almost there “Cool Water” which feels kind of half baked.  Prior to closing, the album goes the international route with the traditionally influenced Scottish number “Eyes of Green” which marks the return of Lanegan.  The gospel-backed choir of Lanegan’s closer “Lately” feels like a mid period Stones track and points to a direction that should be explored more by Lanegan.

“Hawk” is an album that is all over the musical map and features many great turns by musicians who graciously step out of their comfort zones.  “Hawk” isn’t a perfect album but it’s fairly close.  “Hawk” arrives in stores on August 24th on Vanguard Records.

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