Paul Hawkins And Thee Awkward Silences
I Believe In Karma (Jezus Factory)
The first problem I have with this record is that I don’t believe in what Paul Hawkins says. Sure, the words are all nice and everything but it is delivered with such off-key bombast that it jars. It’s like a Nick Cave song narrated by John Cooper-Clarke on a day when royally pissed off is the best he is going to feel. I don’t think he does believe in Karma, the invective inherent in his delivery is underscored by the ominous instrumentation, I imagine him reading it to a captive as he sets out his master plan.
The second problem is that I am starting to believe in him, I am playing it daily, and carving the words in my conscious, the desperate heart beats contoured by the chugging, pounding guitars and fizzing drums. It feels like he is now sitting on my shoulder, pulling strings and dictating movements to sour horizons.
I can’t wait.
Jamie Brown
