Download the Ex-Stranglers guitarist’s new solo album here for free! It’s worth your while, as Hugh Cornwell teamed up with White Stripes producer Liam Watson to deliver decent retro Rock.
Cornwell used to be the lead guitarist and main songscribe in The Stranglers, racking up a whopping 21 Top 40 singles between 1977 and 1990. They were always too sophisticated to be a Punk band, but as one of their songs goes, The Stranglers were ‘Nice ‘n’ Sleazy’. They had non-PC lyrics - ‘Peaches’, ‘No More Heroes’ - and you could still croon along to practically all their songs.
So far so good, fed up with clinging on to faded Punk glamour, Cornwell walked out on the band in 1990. You’re excused if you can’t name a single song he’s done since. I can’t either.
And then there comes ‘Hooverdam’. It’s a surprisingly sprightly Cornwell, who sounds like somebody Alan McGhee might have signed to his Creation label back in the 80’s. In other words, its proper retro rock material. Think The Loft, My Bloody Valentine - Minimal, trashy rock with a faint 60’s touch. If I’d have to narrow the sound and the songs down to one comparison, it’s The Pastels.
I didn’t expect that at all. It’s pretty cool though, and Cornwell gives current shoegazer heroes Glasvegas a run for their money. Check Cornwell on ‘Wrong Side Of The Tracks’, in pensive mood on ‘Delightful Nightmare’, or on full collision course with Glasvegas on the slightly rockabilly tinted ‘Within You Or Without You’.
OK, there is no ‘No More Heroes’ or ‘Golden Brown’ here, but his material is consistent. The sound is spot on, not too busy and a little bit trashy. I miss the bass, though. Cornwell’s searing guitar in The Stranglers was always contrasted by Jean Jacques Burnel’s growling, punchy bass for maximum effect.
Producer Liam Watson makes up for the lost punch to some extent. ‘Hooverdam’ was recorded at Watson’s Toe- Rag studio in London’s East End, crammed full of vintage analogue gear. This is where The White Stripes got their sound on their breakthrough album ‘Elephant’. That’ll give you an idea: Crunchy garage beat is Watson’s forte and it certainly gives ‘Hooverdam’ a nice edge.
Download ‘Hooverdam’ here for FREE!
To hear the glorious valve amp sound at its fullest, you really need to buy ‘Hooverdam’ on vinyl and play it through a decent HiFi. You can buy the vinyl album directly from Cornwell’s own site.
The CD version of ‘Hooverdam’ comes with a bonus DVD with a feature length movie about the recording of the album. If you’d enjoy being a fly on the wall in a recording studio full of rare vintage kit, then this is worth splashing out for.
Watch The Trailer For ‘Blueprint’
Cornwell says the film, which is called ‘Blueprint’, was inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s unique fusion of a Rolling Stones recording session with radical chic and politics in the movie ‘Sympathy For The Devil’. Living up to Godard’s vision is a bit aspirational. ‘Blueprint’ limits itself to a more straighforward approach, but as music documentaries go this looks pretty honest.
If you would like to buy the CD plus DVD Digipak, please see the links below.
We say: 
US Readers - Buy Hugh Cornwell’s New Album And DVD Here!
UK And Ireland Readers - Buy Hugh Cornwell’s New Album And DVD Here!
