The profusely prolific Laurie Hulme keeps on pumping out those hits, his alter ego ‘Songs For Walter’ has committed himself to giving away a free track each month. His last singles ‘Tougher Than A Soldier’s Boots’ and ‘Moon / Two Out Of Ten’ gained multiple radio plays by Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq and Tom Ravenscroft. Having spent the last eight months furiously bringing his last single and debut EP to life with numerous live performances around the country and relishing a work ethic just as strong, Songs For Walter’s Laurie Hulme has been a busy man.
Eventually this project will accumulate into full blown album, released as a lovely piece of vinyl in Summer! There is talk of a deluxe double album, with well over 20 tracks! Watch this space.
Family sayings stick to the memory like glue. No matter how much you try to shake them for fear of turning into your parents, time-worn words of wisdom come flooding back should the right situation present itself. No stranger to this is Songs For Walter – to date each song has emerged as a musical narrative with family life at its heart, and new single Family Hold Back is no exception.
“’Family Hold Back’ was something Mum used to say,” recalls Songs For Walter alter-personality Laurie Hulme. “It was something her parents told her, then she told my brother and I at social occasions to stop us from gorging ourselves in front of others at buffets!”
On the surface it would seem that motherly advice has been taken. Lighter-than-air vocals reminiscent of Mercury Rev’s ethereal tones flow alongside an infectious ukulele melody and four to floor bass drum making it not only recall the stripped-back, traditional sound of Songs For Walter’s self-titled debut EP, but also the epitome of Englishness in its truest sense – amenable, considered, and always polite.
But don’t be fooled, for Songs For Walter has always been a master of trickery presenting everyday scenarios that represent far deeper lying issues – here a seemingly innocent party spread masquerades as a deliberately misleading yet astute commentary on social etiquette, over-indulgence and addiction.
“I’m just hoping i can find some kind of balance,” sings Hulme at the end of the song. Whatever that balance is, there’s no doubting that Family Hold Back is Songs For Walter at its most accomplished sounding yet.
Building a momentum to release a free single each month up until Summer 2013, in which a lovely piece of vinyl will be released documenting this amazing story of ‘Songs For Walter’.
