Hazlett – Goodbye To The Valley Low (2023)
Since first hearing Hazlett just two months ago, they have quickly become a constant in my Spotify playlists. Having already flown through their back catalogue, I was excited to hear Goodbye To the Valley Low, and it did not disappoint. Coming at the perfect time of year in my opinion. This EP adds warmth to the short days, low sun and cold air and for me has been the perfect soundtrack to driving around the English countryside, during dusk as the light is just fading. I’ve not heard so many earworms on one record in a very long time, I found myself singing along almost instantly, to the point now if I start off my family joins in. Truly wondrous folk with hooks any veteran pop star would be proud of.
From the opening track ‘Blame the Moon’ beautifully draws you in, with its soft melody and haunting lyrics I knew this was going to be something special and it only gets better. Next came a personal favourite of mine, ‘Missionary Feelings’, which I’ve loved since hearing it on the first single from this EP, ‘Slow Running‘, back in November. I definitely feel ‘Missionary Feelings’ is an ode to that fear we all have about being vulnerable in a relationship. To finish off the previously released tracks on the record comes ‘Mama’s Boy’, simply just another beautiful folk tune, nothing more, nothing less.
‘Goodbye To the Valley Low’ culminates with two previously unreleased tracks, both of which left me smiling ear to ear. Upbeat melodic folk which I got a distinct feeling of a bluegrass influence, ‘Cemetery’ and ‘Stolen Seasons’ are a triumph in songwriting.
The opening sentence of Hazlett’s Spotify profile sums this record up perfectly: “The honest truth… I’m just one heck of an emotional, stubborn, simple, romantic guy.” It is all of those things and so much more. I can only hope there is more on the way very soon.
If you like Goodbye To the Valley Low as much as I have, Hazlett is on the road across Europe with contemporary folk Canadian duo Ocie Elliot and fellow songwriter Old Sea Brigade in May and June. The disappointment I can think of writing this review is I’m not going to get a chance to attend any of them. Here’s hoping I can catch Hazlett live in the near future.
Find out more from Hazlett on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
