Hawksley Workman and The Wolves

The Strand's amazing Somerset House on a dusky evening is a cultural oasis in the desert of city living. Tonight it is the setting for one of the most unique and mesmerising performances of fresh inborn talent seen for a long time.

Likened so far to a contemporary Jeff Buckley, Canadian Hawksley Workman's powerful stage presence possesses the raunchiness and almost theatrical intensity of Princein his 'Purple Rain' era and combines primal rock n' roll instinct with gentle, yet ardent ballads of folky blues.

Hawksley's barely describable vocal paints a picture of Bowie meets Freddie Mercury,gutteral meets falsetto. His lyrical delivery is fast flowing and elegant, encompassing humour, love, cynicism and introspect 'I'm jealous of your cigarette and the pleasure that you get from it' , it is delivered with added throaty growls, barks, full body shudders and the full blown confidence of a born performer, so clearly in his element.

The Wolves consist of a pianist on Roland keyboard, drummer and a bassist who occasionally adds deliciously harmonious backing vocals to Hawksley's overwhelmingly confident self expression. Even the tracks which are minus drums and bass and just give us vocal with piano accompaniment are attention stealing. The singer's occasional surreal and cryptic ad-libbing between tracks, with talk of prayer and angels is also thoroughly thought provoking.

Hawksley Workman is much more than a breath of fresh air, he is a tornado, a whirlwind of positive energy that bowls you over with sheer excitement and intrigue.

For those of us who like some meat with our sonic veg and potatoes, here is the solution. A songwriter and producer as well as a multi-talented musician and born entertainer, his new album ' (last night we were) the delicious wolves ' release date 01.07.02 is a must for those of us who really appreciate true vocal skills and outstanding ability.

MW