When the Darkness split in October 2006, the music world divided: half screamed for joy, and yet the hearts of many fans sank along with their favourite cock-rockers. Rising phoenix-like from the ashes of The Darkness came Stone Gods, the remaining members, joined by Toby MacFarlaine, playing metal-infused classic rock. But what, you may ask, became of that catsuit-championing frontman?After sorting out his drug and alcohol addictions with a spell in The Priory, many believed Justin Hawkins would continue with his solo work under the moniker of British Whale. Some wondered where he was going with failed Eurovision attempt “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To”. But Hawkins has beaten his doubters, and has triumphantly returned with Hot Leg, and what can only be called one of the most impressive debut albums of the year. Welcome to “Red Light Fever”.
After the first few bars of opener “Chickens”, you face the undeniably brilliant fact that Hawkins is back, and he is at the top of his game. Catchy hooks-aplenty, this album is man rock to the max! (Man rock, incidentally, is how the band themselves classify their music.) Ever the master of the instrumental breakdown, Hawkins throws in a synthesizer delight before launching you straight back into the rock!
“You Can’t Hurt Me Any More” is classic Hawkins – catchy hooks and high pitched squeals are the order of the day, as Hot Leg prove they are a band to be reckoned with.
“Ashamed”, featuring Hawkins’ Eurovision partner-in-crime Beverlei Brown, features all the wit and charm Hawkins is famed for, as they sing about the failures of the reality-TV culture in which we find ourselves today. Who else could get away with writing the lyrics: “Fame Academy, Pop Idol, It’s making me suicidal” and still be hailed as a rock god?
Next comes the brilliantly catchy “I’ve Met Jesus”, surely one of the tracks that stands ever so slightly taller than the rest on this debut. With a chorus you can sing your heart out to, and a riff that’s catchier than the plague, you really will believe you’ve met Jesus. Just remember “He’s nothing like you, there’s no resemblance whatsoever.”
What follows is a triumph of medieval rock: “Trojan Guitar”. This epic ballad of battles fought over the legendary guitar of the song’s title features acoustic strumming, heavy riffs and that unforgettable falsetto, which combine in harmony to create another of this album’s stand-out tracks.
“Cocktails” and “Gay in the 80s” follow suit, bursting with humour and energy, before the Leg launch into “Prima Donna”, its deliciously-harmonised chorus lingering in the listeners’ memory for days.
“Whichever Way You Wanna Give It” continues the man rocking, before album closer, “Kissing in the Wind” begins. This stadium-sized power ballad harbours pianos, memorably meaty guitar licks, and, strangely enough, a Baroque-esque harpsichord breakdown. Its warm guitar solos and melodic acoustic picking all add up to create one of the best final songs there has ever been on an album.
There will be many who will cast off this album as The Darkness’ third album that never was. But this is a whole other beast: rockier, unforgettable, better. Rarely an album comes along that is so brilliant, that there are no ‘off’ tracks. This might just be one of those albums, as every song is bursting with the wit and humour we have come to expect from Justin “Dave” Hawkins. The pomp and circus is back, only this time without the catsuits…
“Red Light Fever” is out now on Barbeque Rock Records.
For more info on Hot Leg, visit www.myspace.com/hotleg, or check out http://www.teamhotleg.com/ for free downloads and all the latest news. Great music, great.
ES
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