Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
It has always been the feel of the British Noir, the black and white stand out persona and often photographed demeanour that has always endeared Hugh Cornwell to the British public, a sense of being one of the most open, honest and insightful men to ever grace a gig, and one that has the pulse of Time firmly within his grasp.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Hugh Cornwell is a name that so many have grown up with. No matter the age of the listener, it seems his own solo career and his lengthy time with The Stranglers has touched people’s music conscious and keeps on doing so. No small wonder that the man seems to get more and more enjoyment from coming out on stage, even if he doesn’t say so, his body language speaks volumes as he trades notes and the odd smile with the audience.
Originally published by L.S.Media. September 12th 2012.
Whatever accusation you throw at Hugh Cornwell, boring and banal are the superlatives that should not ever be amongst them.
Since leaving The Stranglers in 1990, Hugh’s song-writing has stretched people’s intellectual knowledge and meant the freedom to enjoy a good song for what it is worth. He has produced albums that the listener either will adore and the songs much called for during his live set or frustrate with their alleged simplicity and lyrical content. Such is life and Hugh more than likely won’t care which camp you end up in. The same will be felt for Hugh’s new album Totem and Taboo. It will frustrate and please in equal measure and even though Hugh’s back catalogue reflects his time in the profession with a smile, there are times when even a fan will shudder. Totem and Taboo somehow manages to still have the raw inner anger in his compositions that endears him to a certain section of music lovers.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2009.
An altercation with a fan over a camera flash left a packed house briefly in fear that Hugh Cornwell would not return for the second of a set of two halves featuring songs from his latest offering Hooverdam and re-visiting The Stranglers’ 1977 debut album Rattus Norvegicus.
However, Hugh returned to bring the house down with the old favourites, kicking off with Sometimes, followed by the entire album including Goodbye Toulouse, Peaches, Hanging Around and Down in the Sewer.
Originally published by the Birmingham Mail. March 2009.
Every time Hugh Cornwell plays a gig, he seems to defy age and convention with a host of great songs, either from his days as the frontman of The Stranglers or his equally long solo career.
The first part of the set was taken up with Cornwell playing his brilliant new album Hooverdam in its entirety, which included the opener Wrong Side of the Tracks and Going to the City before going into some truly memorable songs.
Hugh Cornwell in action. Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. May 17th 2010.
One of the joys of travelling around the country to see musicians ply their trade is that sometimes you get to go to a completely new venue in a brand new city. For the first time as a fan of music I had the pleasure of visiting Gloucester Civic Hall to see Hugh Cornwell on his latest tour and I wasn’t disappointed by the venue or the man behind some of the iconic songs of his generation.
Hugh Cornwell at the Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. April 17th 2011.
There will always be fans and critics alike who hark back to the days when Hugh Cornwell was the lead vocalist with the punk band and great British export The Stranglers, however, what these fans and critics always seem to miss is the prodigious amount of work that Hugh has done in the 21 years since he left the band and without sounding condescending to the man, how damn good that solo stuff is and how laid back his nights on stage are.
Originally published by L.S. Media. January 30th 2012.
L.S. Media Rating ****
If you are going to visit the The Lowry Theatre in Salford for the first time then it’s best to make the most of your time on stage. Hugh Cornwell has been around in the music scene for a long time, he’s seen it sang it and sold the tee-shirts by the lorry load, in terms of music he stands out as one of the greats but even the greats have a first night somewhere.