Album Review: Lawson - Chapman Square

When UK band Lawson came to Australia for a brief promo tour last month, the hype surrounding them was unexpected, but their debut album Chapman Square proves that this hype was warranted. The acoustic pop-rock outfit list their major musical influence as Maroon 5, but don't seem to reference them musically on the album or in their overall sound. It's more like listening to Train: not Drops Of Jupiter but Hey Soul Sister.

Chapman Square features the breathy, delicate vocals of Lawson's lead singer Andy Brown and once these are combined with catchy, pop-rock melodies the album is gently beautiful. Guitars and drums are the driving force of each song on the album, which gives a feeling of breathing life into a dusty room. The subject matter of the majority of the songs on the album is Brown's break-up with Mollie King, a singer from The Saturdays. Lyrical content explores the following themes: unrequited love/regret on Standing In The Dark, a break-up from the girl's perspective on Gone, the boy's side of the story on When She Was Mine and Stolen, and a long-distance relationship on Everywhere You Go.

The simplicity of the lyrics on Waterfall – “…holding onto love's impossible, like climbing a waterfall” – conjures up beautiful imagery and this song is an album highlight. Another is the unexpected piano at the beginning of You Didn't Tell Me, which is reminiscent of Gabrielle's Out Of Reach from the Bridget Jones's Diary soundtrack.

Lawson and, more importantly, Chapman Square could just be the sleeper hit of the year.