A Firmer Hand is Hamish Hawk's most powerful album to date

Hawk is now at the top of his game, expertly merging sharp intellect with a visceral sense of emotion, giving us some greased-up gut punches that feel foreboding and finely tuned.

For those looking for an artist who can walk the tightrope between intellectual depth and resonance, you can now very much start paying attention to Hawk as he has finally arrived on record in a way he's been teasing for a few years now. He echoes his influences less now; instead channeling their spirit into something distinctly his own flavor of world-building, and A Firmer Hand is all the sweeter for it.

The album unfolds in a way that feels deliberate and immersive, much like R.E.M.’s New Adventures In Hi-Fi, where each track contributes to a larger narrative rather than scrambling for pop singles. The influence of Scott Walker is palpable – not in direct imitation, but in the way Hawk evokes a sense of theatrical grandeur that so many, including Alex Turner, have attempted but failed to fully capture. Hawk, however, succeeds with a finesse that is rare in contemporary music.

“Big Cat Tattoos” exemplifies his unmistakably more confident approach, combining quirky rhythms with reflective lyrics, reminiscent of David Byrne’s jiggly funk precision. Hawk’s music similarly brims with both sly wit and wry observation, not unlike the cheeky, knowing smirks of Alex Cameron's sleaze.

“Men Like Wire” channels the urgency of Idlewild’s “The World In Your Arms” and an all-important fancifulness of The Smiths, offering a potent mix of indie rock energy and contemplative melancholy. Meanwhile, “Christopher St.” is an atmospheric marvel, blending more of that Scott Walker-esque West End showmanship with the whimsy of a solemn Disney tune, creating a sound that is both sad but comforting to the right kind of battered mind.

Throughout the album, Hawk’s knack for creating danceable yet thought-provoking music shines, reminiscent of the Scottish dancefloor energy that Franz Ferdinand brought to the fore, but with a darker, more brooding edge. Winks and nudges through the plastic cups at indie discos to the older art students at the back figuring out who they are. He's crafted an album that showcases his remarkable ability to weaponize a confusion between abstract characters and a brutal meta honesty, tilting between the uncomfortable absurd and beautiful.

The effect is intrigue with broad appeal, creating a work that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant. A Firmer Hand not only cements Hawk’s status as a unique voice in modern culture but also builds anticipation for the exciting directions his future works might take on and off stage.