Hawk

Artist: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Label: Shock
Website: myspace.com/isobelcampbell

You can't ask for two voices that balance each other out better then the sweet earthiness from Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian) and the gravely gruffness of Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Gutter Twins). It is this complimentary sound that comes together when they duel it out on their third long player together, Hawk.

More so than on their previous records, Hawk has a very retro vibe regardless of any one track's style. The record itself spans several genres with blues, folk, country and rockabilly leading the charge, while it also really lets Campbell steer the ship as Lanegan's distinguishable voice only shows up on 8 of its 13 tracks.

Other tracks feature Willy Mason and former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, who contributes to "You Won't Me Let Down Again", which gives Hawk even more punch. The reality is that when it comes to Campbell & Lanegan, you get some of the most focused work out there from a duo that wears every note on their sleeve and pulls every vocal directly from their soul.

It is a winning combination that never gets old and sounds great every time you spin it.

Christopher Anthony

For more of Christopher Anthony's music reviews, check out The Fire Note