If we’ve learned anything from Scottish singer/songwriter Hamish Hawk’s first few albums, the artist is a workaholic. Rarely taking more than a year or two to write and record his albums, with an extensive touring schedule thrown into the mix, Hawk has proven to be a dedicated musician determined to take advantage of the attention he has gotten from albums like Heavy Elevator and 2023’s Angel Numbers. With a tried and true dedication to creation, the real question we all have going into A Firmer Hand, the artist’s third album since 2021, is whether his creativity is as limitless as the workload he’s willing to take on. The age-old story of artists and bands falling into the record-tour cycle and how it affects the music they record is not a story of artistic growth and diversity, and it appears that Hawk’s hardheadedness is keeping him from falling victim to repetition. The 12 songs that makeup Hawk’s new record are gothic and epic, and, most importantly, they are a welcomed and refreshing change of pace for an artist on the precipice of a long and fruitful career.
While Hawk’s songwriting and booming vocals are still at the heart of A Firmer Hand, it is packaged in a new groovy yet dark sound. The ethos of the danceable synth wave drives these songs, allowing for an enticing juxtaposition between tones and tempos. Hawk did more than rethink his approach; he completely stripped his process to its bones and rebuilt a persona that finds solace in the obscurity of the situations and relationships in which he finds himself. Hawk employs vivid imagery that details scenes from dark bedrooms and bleak relationships. The artists approach this new sonic scenery with a sense of maturity. This is not the same Hamish Hawk that made the more conventional and sentimental soft rock of Angel Numbers. Incoming success and life on the road will change a man, and rather than stew in the insanity of a promising music career, Hawk got to work on making sure his music matched the noise around him.
A Firmer Hand is an experimental record with Hawk’s newfound love for gothic tones at its core. Whatever cosmic creative force pushed the artist into this new sonic direction, it is a powerful one. The album is as consistent as it is nostalgic. Hawk found overwhelming inspiration from classic synth wave and took its typical lush sounds and spun them into vulnerable moments like “You Can Film Me” and “Machiavelli’s Room.” Even on songs like the single “Men Like Wire” and “Questionable Hit” that hint more at Hawk’s past releases, you can feel the shift in the artist’s mindstate. If there is one thing undeniable about A Firmer Hand, it is that it is pure Hawk. While the artist borrows from past scenes within subgenres, this new approach to songcraft has Hawk reaching deep into his memory bank to write these confessional songs.
While A Firmer Hand is largely consistent, there are moments where Hawk seems to break character. The abovementioned “Men Like Wire” and “Questionable Hit,” while still sounding different from Hawk’s prior albums, divert from the overall sonic direction of the project. These aren’t weak moments in the tracklist, but they can distract from this vampiric and exciting new direction from the artist. There is no denying that Hawk did what any great artist would do: throw fans a curveball just as soon as they think they have a young artist figured out, but there is an air of hesitancy in the risks Hawk took on his latest.
Nevertheless, A Firmer Hand puts Hawk on the right track. These 12 songs are filled with risks, and the rewards are bountiful. Hawk seamlessly transitioned into a new sound that still aligns with his natural knack for crafting catchy melodies and painting detailed scenery.
