Richard Hawley - The Ocean

Sheffield singer/songwriter Richard Hawley had his breakthrough with the stunning Coles Corner album in 2005, and "The Ocean" is one of many beautiful songs on it. I posted "Hotel Room" from the same album some time ago, claiming that it's one of the best ballads of the new millennium, a claim I fully stand by, but "The Ocean" really isn't bad either. The sweeping strings, Hawley's trademark tremolo guitar, and his warm, soothing voice singing the hypnotic melody, all contribute to make this a song for the ages. Hawley is kind of revisiting the 50's, and production- and soundwise it's not a bad move. He's conjuring the sea with this song, not unintentionally, I'm sure.

Watch and listen