Hugh’s cautionary tales about matters of the heart are revealed in his inimitable coded style on Beware of the Doll.“You think you’re listening to love. You’re sinking from a foot above.” And the more personal album closer Heartbreak at Sevenwhich was the first song that Hugh recorded for this album. Illustrious, multi-talented and a legend, with Moments of Madness, Hugh Cornwell has produced a timely and thought-provoking masterpiece for our times.

Moments of Madness – New Album and Tour - HughCornwell.com. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022. When was the last time you stopped to stare in a guitar shop window or browse online, and what were you looking at? There’s a sentence in the supporting press documentation that came with this, though, that rather intrigues. It says that Cornwell was “widely regarded as the poet laureate of the punk era” and certainly, the ten songs here are wonderful in their use of language that verges on the unique, but it’s only when you add it together with the truly bewildering kaleidoscope of musical styles that you realise how good “Moments Of Madness” is.Looking for You reveals a Jim Morrison-inspired vocal over this song’s spooky atmospherics, and the semi-autobiographical and upbeat When I Was a Young Man opens a can of insightful, wistful emotions “As years go by and friends, they die they leave me living slow,” Hugh sombrely sings as he reflects upon his family and friends.

His tenth solo opus, Moments of Madness, continues his illustrious output by experimenting with musical genres as his enviable reputation as a wordsmith resounds across this album’s songs. The song “Moments of Madness” is about pain, but it doesn’t have the humor of Queen’s “I’m Going Slightly Mad.” This is far more within the asylum and born from society’s decline, rather than an attempt to smile at the insanity around us. The mantra of madness becomes a chant, a descent to insanity.Classical intellectuals Pliny the Elder and Aristotle once hypothesized of the power of the full moon. Its ability to induce madness across the lands upon which it illuminated, a celestial lunacy. A high watermark and a modern-day masterpiece, Moments of Madness is being tipped as the most significant album of Hugh’s career. I don’t mind different types of jewellery, show it to me, just feel free’, could be I’m missing the artistry” opines Hugh on Red Rose– a song about the bewildering trend for tattoos revealing a record of many gleaming lyrical gems. A high watermark and a modern-day masterpiece, Moments of Madness is being tipped as the most significant album of Hugh’s illustrious career.” Velvet Thunder

Cornwell’s bleeding heart is exposed in a growling rendition of ‘Thrown Away’ that merrily stomps along marauding on its way. ‘Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)’ is punked right up with Cornwell spitting out the chorus with anti-obsequious venom.Widely regarded as the poet laureate of the punk era (from his early career fronting the Stranglers to his transition as a solo artist), Hugh Cornwell has built a substantial and singular body of impressive solo albums. His tenth solo opus, Moments of Madness, continues his illustrious output by experimenting with musical genres as his enviable reputation as a wordsmith resounds across this album’s songs. Former Stranglers frontman and poet laureate of the punk era, Hugh Cornwell, made a welcome return to Brighton this evening in support of his tenth solo album ‘Moments Of Madness’ which dropped on Friday 7th October 2022. ‘Moments Of Madness’ is multi-layered with serious messages, acute analysis, and witty observations in fun-filled lyrical and musical eccentricity. Hugh Cornwell at Concorde 2, Brighton 12.11.22 (pic Cris Watkins/ PunkInFocus) Four years since his previous remarkable solo album Monster, the opener, and first single, Coming Out of the Wilderness surfs an edgy and explosive sixties sound with a heavy Duane Eddy guitar twang as Hugh declares, “I’m coming out of the wilderness, learnt how to throw a bowie knife. Ran into fair-haired maiden’s out there but didn’t take no wife.” The pioneering musician, songwriter, and performer’s evening was divided into two sets of thirteen songs followed by twelve tunes, with the first being his solo material from 1988 to the present day, and the second being tunes from 1977 to 1984 of his time with The Stranglers, where he was the main songwriter of the band’s many memorable songs. This set included some Stranglers classics, plus a few that have never performed live before. The once and forever Strangler brings a dirty-riffing lurch of no surrender from new album Moments of Madness.” MOJO, 4 Stars

The creepily entitled ‘Beware Of The Doll’ explores matters of the heart. It’s uncomplicated yet resonant with Cornwell whittling a sweet solo from his white Telecaster. Reminiscent of the darker Stranglers material Cornwell’s ghosting vocals hauntingly reverberate. Widely regarded as the poet laureate of the punk era (from his early career fronting the Stranglers to his transition as a solo artist), Hugh Cornwellhas built a substantial and singular body of impressive solo albums. His tenth solo opus, Moments of Madness, continues his illustrious output by experimenting with musical genres as his enviable reputation as a wordsmith resounds across this album’s songs.Looking for You reveals a Jim Morrison inspired vocal over this song’s spooky atmospherics and the semi-autobiographical and upbeat When I Was a Young Man opens a can of insightful, wistful emotions “As years go by and friends, they die they leave me living slow,” Hugh sombrely sings as he reflects upon his family and friends. hours ago Italian Thrash Metal Band URAL Unleashes New Video-Clip for “Blood Red Sand” from Third Album “Psychoverse” So it’s a fine album. There’s even a song titled “Lasagne” that saw me having a groove through the kitchen!