Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

posted by albums-update

Hawk is the third collaborative studio album by Scottish indie pop singer Isobel Campbell and American alternative rock musician Mark Lanegan, released on 24 August 2010 on V2 Records. Recorded throughout the United Kingdom and the United States, Hawk features a number of guest musicians, including folk singer Willy Mason, bassist Bill Wells and former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha.

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan seemed like an unlikely musical couple when they first began collaborating in 2006 — she of the breathy whisper, he of the deep, bluesy rasp. But their intriguing blend of bitter and sweet has turned into viable ongoing partnership, and on their third album together, Hawk, Campbell and Lanegan continue to merge their distinct but complimentary styles while adding a few new edges to their approach. While Lanegan didn’t write any material for this album, someone got the fine idea of persuading him to dip into the Townes Van Zandt songbook; his voice was tailor made for the grim undercurrents of “Snake Song.” “Come Undone,” meanwhile, plays out over a taut R&B-flavored backing track with strings and a relentless single-note piano mirroring the tension of the lyrics, while “You Won’t Let Me Down Again” winds out its dark, atmospheric melody with a dose of slashing guitar courtesy of James Iha. “Get Behind Me” is a rollicking dose of honky tonk fire, and “Lately” closes out the set with some passionate country gospel pleading.

But the biggest surprise is the title track, a righteous blast of sax-driven blues that stomps and swaggers to hard that there’s no room for vocals, and if it seems like an odd choice for an album from a pair of singers, it’s wild and tough enough that no one is likely to mind. Much of the rest of the album follows the template of Campbell and Lanegan‘s first two albums, but if it’s heavy on echoing atmospherics and open spaces, there’s no arguing that Campbell (as producer and primary songwriter) knows how to make this stuff work, and her duets with Lanegan sound only more confident and intuitive with time. Ballad of the Broken Seas was a surprise because two seemingly mismatched artists proved to be a splendid collaboration; four years later, Hawk isn’t as startling, but it’s encouraging to know that the magic between Campbell and Lanegan not only hasn’t worn off, it’s manifesting itself in new and compelling ways.

Track listing

“We Die and See Beauty Reign” (Campbell, Jim McCulloch) – 2:56
“You Won’t Let Me Down Again” (Campbell, McCulloch) – 3:30
“Snake Song” (Townes van Zandt) – 2:48
“Come Undone” (Campbell) – 5:44
“No Place to Fall” (van Zandt) – 3:17
“Get Behind Me” (Campbell) – 5:09
“Time of the Season” (Campbell) – 4:28
“Hawk” (Campbell) – 2:28
“Sunrise” (Campbell) – 2:32
“To Hell & Back Again” (Campbell) – 4:46
“Cool Water” (Campbell) – 3:38
“Eyes of Green” (Campbell) – 1:51
“Lately” (Campbell) – 4:48

iTunes bonus track

“Won’t Be Sorry” – 3:23

All tracks are written by Isobel Campbell except where noted.

Performers

Isobel Campbell – vocals (1–7, 9–12), piano (3, 5), autoharp (7), shaker (7), tambourine (10), producer, arrangement, mixing (1–8, 10–13)
Mark Lanegan – vocals (1–4, 6, 7, 12, 13)

Other musicians

Jim McCulloch – guitar (1–13)
Dave McGowen – guitar (1, 2, 11), double bass (1–5, 11), bass (6–8, 10, 12, 13), harmonica (12)
Peter Dombernowsky – drums (2, 3, 5–8, 10, 12, 13), percussion (11, 13)
Jeff Fielder – guitar (2, 7, 13)
James Iha – guitar (2, 10)
Nikolaj Heyman – guitar (1, 8)
Bill Wells – organ (6), piano (10, 12)
Chris Geddes – organ (3, 4)
Paile Hjorth – organ (3), accordion (12)
Jason Bratile – banjo (3)

Other musicians (continued)

Willy Mason – vocals (5, 11)
Nina Violet – violin (5, 12)
Makeda Francisco – vocals (13)
Tisha Freddrick – vocals (13)
Shreveport Massive – claps (8)
Paul Leonard Morgan – arrangement (4, 7, 10)

Technical personnel

Dave Paterson – engineer, mixing (2–4, 6, 7, 10, 13)
Matthew Cullen – engineer, mixing (1, 5, 8, 11, 12)
Chris Szczech – engineer, mixing (2, 4, 9)
Geoff Allan – engineer, mixing (10)
Kent Olsen – engineer
Stuart Hamilton – engineer
Cameron Meshell – engineer
Alex Wharton – mastering

Notes
Released: 24 August 2010
Recorded: 2009–2010
Recording Location:
Cameron’s House, Shreveport LA
Castle Sound Studios, Pencaitland, Scotland, UK
Cava Sound, Glasgow,Scotland, UK
Donnie Nelson’s Loft, Dallas, TX
Safe & Sound, Aarhus DK
Sonora Recorder, Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Alternative rock, folk rock
Length: 51:18

Label – V2 Records