You wouldn't know it from the cover shot of various elderly types sitting outside a grimy-looking cafe, but Richard Hawley's 'Late Night Final' album contains some of the sweetest melodies heard since Scott Walker was in his pomp. The unlikely looking Hawley (unkempt hair, cigarette never far away from the mouth) progresses from his recent eponymous mini-album to deliver more songs of romantic longing which have more in common with West coast rock than West Yorkshire. 'Something Is...' is reminiscent of the Tales Of Unexpected theme tune with words. Hawley achieves great intimacy using a close-mic style on 'Can You Hear The Rain, Love?', 'Love Of My Life' and 'Cry A Tear For The Man In The Moon'. 'Precious Sight' even survives a treated vocal from Hawley not that he needs such effects but 'Long Black Train' is more traditional, it's melody a white man's version of 'Stand By Me'. Strange though it may seem, at a time when many of the best albums since the turn of the century have been electronica-based but Hawley's nostalgic anthems rank him as one of today's most exciting talents.