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All Was Numbered - Kevin Hewick Album Review

Posted: 3rd May 2012
Review Info
Rating:
4 out of 5
Artist:
Release Date:
23rd Apr 2012
Label:
Hacienda Records
Reviewer:
Paul Pledger
All Was Numbered - Kevin Hewick Album Review

Album Review

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the well-documented opening of Manchesters world-renowned nightclub (and financial albatross) The Hacienda. As you might have expected, there have been films, books, parties, more films, more books and many more parties celebrating its legacy left behind after it closed in the 90s. Aside from the somewhat soulless apartment-block currently perched where the dance-floor of dreams once reverberated (and not always in time to the beat of the tunes being played) and the renewed Fac 51 venue now occupying Factory Records old HQ, there isnt a lot left over from those heady days, apart from memories and stories.

Prior to The Hacienda, the Manchester label spent its time issuing records by the great and often ignored apart from Joy Division, the music-press hated the remaining roster with a passion. One erstwhile occupant in Tonys company who didnt sit quite so uncomfortably with critics, for a few years at least, was Leicester singer, songwriter and romantic Kevin Hewick who issued just one single on Factory (Ophelias Drinking Song) and one side of notorious live material on the double-album compilation, A Factory Quartet. So, rather than write yet another book about the memories of his early recording-career, Kevin has instead crafted a rather absorbing album about his greatest bits of Factory and Manchester, circa 79.

All Was Numbered deliberately points the listener to the labels eccentric cataloguing system, with all 8 songs dropping various references about the many characters involved in shaping Britains musical heritage. Sadly, this album is only available as a cheerless download but, thankfully, Hewick has taken the time to compile fascinating notes on the album and track-by-track breakdowns on his website. Which saves me time having to go into details here, suffice to say its a great listen (and an even better read maybe he should also write a book).

The album is divided into then and now tracks and bookended by the anthemic Now is Then (Then is Now), which features references to Hewicks childhood heroes and a nod to Hey Jude. More familiar territory is trodden during Fac 501 and Memory Stone, both pretty and reflective odes to Wilsons generosity, foibles and choice of catalogue number for his coffin, the latter gracefully buoyed by some glorious cello. Deeper reflection can be experienced on two songs about his late friend Larry Cassidy, the maverick frontman of Section 25 who would phone Hewick up at all hours of the morning to share his thoughts. Rather than shoegazing miserablism, Larry and French Jazz Station offer a hopeful and compassionate synopsis of a man who could be, by turns, gracious and difficult but never boring.

Standout for me is the playful and rocky Overshadowplaying, in which Hewick cheekily plays Leicester off against Manchester like a rival, a competitor all this from an East Midlander who clearly had an eye and a crush on the North West, despite only releasing a handful of songs with the esteemed imprint. BBC6 Music should be all over this, quite frankly. The lyrics are affectionate and the music is crystal clear whats not to like?

Overall, All Was Numbered ranks as one of Hewicks finest releases its such a shame that given its warm human resonance, its not on a physical format.

Paul Pledger