Outsider Pop champions…Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences!
I was already a huge fan of Paul Hawkins & The(e) Awkward Silences long before “The Wrong Life” was even considered, their two LPs on Jezus Factory are a couple of the coolest records in the world. Absolute Post-Punk fury with wild imaginations and immaculate production, I was crazy for these weirdos. So, when the opportunity came up to feature them in the “AAH 2011 EP Series” I was very very proud of myself indeed. We even scored our first bit of BBC Radio 1 airplay from it, right on!
On “The Wrong Life” Hawkins and company dropped an ‘e’ from their name and much of the Post-Punk / Anti-Folk lunacy of their earlier material, experimenting with an Alternative Country / Backwater Murder Ballad style…there were zombies, stolen trains, pillars of salt and a whole lot more. We then followed it up with a frantic Double A-Side single which I wanted to release on cassette but I couldn’t afford it.
But it turned out pretty good, right?
The Awkward Silences on Facebook
Highly Recommended: Jezus Factory Records Back Catalogue
“Twisted, frustrated, comedic, one thing is for certain, this isn’t pretty, but it damn sure is charming.” – Bearded
“Underground legend…Doing something truly on their own and making the rules up as they go along”– Artrocker
“Clamouring for the position of best British band of the 21st Century – 5/5” – God Is In The TV
“Hawkins’ deadpan vocal delivery works to great effect…lyrics are very clever and spot-on…a thoroughly unpleasant listen.” – Drowned In Sound
“Paul Hawkins is the Preacher Man – 8/10.” – The Music Fix
“Rejoice in their individualism, their energy, their off-kilter rock n roll with intruiging lyrics and a captivating presence.” – Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1
Audio Antihero: 