Hugh Cornwell – Wolf

Sometimes it's the albums that you expect least from that prove to be the most rewarding. This disc is one such case in point. I approached Wolf with a distinct wariness and as soon as the opener "Another Kind of Love" sets off there is little doubt that this album couldn’t have been recorded in any other decade except the 80’s. Indeed, every song seems to boast a generous selection of 80’s clichés yet somehow or other it all seems to work. Part of this comes down to Hugh Cornwell's appeal as a vocalist but it is also his song writing, production and arranging skills that prevent this album from becoming just another mundane pop outing.
Cornwell has never been a great singer but he has one of those voices that is interesting to listen to, irrespective of his vocal range. Perhaps inevitably there is a slightly darker edge to some of his lyrics but the pop treatment throughout provides a counter-balance to this. Undeniably, a softer side to his character also emerges on some of these songs. There is also a slightly quirky approach to some of the vocal arrangements that initially seems unlikely to work but actually proves the opposite. So when you first hear "Another Kind of Love" or "Never Never" you wonder what he is doing but by the end of the song I at least found myself won over. Similarly, Cornwell's song writing doesn't generate any breath-taking moments but instead these songs creep up on you and it is only after the second or third listen that you realise quite how catchy they are. A strong cast of supporting musicians certainly helps matters with artists such as Jools Holland and Clive Langer contributing cameos on a few of the numbers.
This is probably one of the first albums I've heard where that signature big 80s sound makes sense. It isn't a record that delivers massive highlights but for the sheer consistency of song writing and performances it is well worth hearing, especially for fans of more mature 80s pop.

Ripped to MP3

1 Another Kind of Love 3:33
2 Cherry Rare 4:09
3 Never Never 3:37
4 Real Slow 3:54
5 Break of Dawn 4:30
6 Clubland 4:11
7 Dreaming Again 4:10
8 Decadence 4:15
9 All the Tea in China 2:49
10 Getting Involved 5:22