Richard Hawley - Hotel Room

Hawley's been through a lot – after forming the Longpigs, joining Pulp and playing with All Saints, his solo career is finally building momentum into it's third long-player. His latest track from Mercury-nominated album 'Coles Corner' sounds like - with hair gelled over and gold-sequined white bodysuit prepped - the Sheffield lad is taking steps into Elvis' weighty shoes. Hotel Room is a string-backed '50s croon, an old-style romantic heart-melter for apron-clad housewives and shake-sharing teenagers. Backed by Elvis cover Young & Beautiful – "your angel smile, your tender touch, you're all I'm dreaming of" - it's almost enough to set post-modern hearts-a-fluttering. My word! [Ally Brown]