I find when the nights are dark and the days are cold, it is a magnificent excuse to sink into the sofa, have a soft and fruity red wine and settle down with the cat and my headphones. The world may be such a dangerous place at the moment (God Bless the people of Iran may we say) and people appear to be at odds with each other – but music often offers us a way to escape all that and drift into a better place.
Today’s artist for you to settle down and listen to with me is Adam Norsworthy. I will first share the press review, then turn to the interview I had with Adam and finish up with the review. Plenty here for your listening and reading pleasure.
The Press Release:
“Shadow on the Hill” is the new solo album from Adam Norsworthy, one of the most respected and critically acclaimed singer-songwriters on the UK’s live music scene. As a founder member of The Mustangs and The Milk Men, Adam has also forged a fascinating and widely-acclaimed solo career, with five previous solo albums. A collection of 10 new songs, all written by Adam, “Shadow on the Hill” showcases the softer, more reflective side of Adam’s writing whilst still maintaining his gift for memorable melodies and hooks, as well as his talent for writing lyrics that are often, in turn, honest and stark or vivid and memorable.
Released on Adam’s own Park Hall label Shadow on the Hill is available on CD from www.adamnorsworthy.co.uk and digitally from Amazon, iTunes and all usual online retailers.
“Relationships are breaking down everywhere,” says Adam. “The polarisation of opinions is tearing people apart and driving a wedge between us all. Long-held, cherished relationships have been destroyed by events happening all over the world from Brexit to the current administration on Capitol Hill.”
Adam plays all the instruments on the album apart from the drums, which are provided by drummer TimWeller(The DivineComedy), who has worked with a wide range of music legends from David Bowie to Eric Clapton.Tim also plays regularly for Dexy’s Midnight Runners and Marc Almond. “Shadow on the Hill” is self-produced by Adam and mixed and mastered by Wayne Proctor of House Of Tone.The perfect partnership, this is the eleventh album the pair have worked on together(four of Adam’s previous solo works, four Milk Men albums and two Mustangs albums).
“Wayne and I have a great working relationship”, says Adam. “And especially with my solo albums we like to find a new angle or approach. On this album we have created an atmosphere that draws you in and holds your attention as you follow the story through.”
With all this in mind, I will turn to my interview with Adam first and then share my review with you.
I want to start with ‘Milkfest,’ which is on at the Indigo at the 02 in Greenwich on March 1 (ticket link here) and this year is raising money for Dementia UK, a charity close to us. It has become a real celebration of British blues while raising money for charity, and an event you are such a part of. What keeps you motivated to grow that side of your work, and what has this year in store for us all in 2026?
Adam: The first one was really a venture into the unknown, so it was exciting and felt very risky, but I, and the rest of the Milk Men, knew it could be something really worth doing if we could raise some good money, and that’s luckily how it worked out! It was a brilliant day on many levels. This year we are playing for Dementia UK, a wonderful, smaller charity that helps provide assistance for people suffering from, or caring for people with dementia, which is one of every two people in the UK. The motivation comes from wanting to do something worthwhile, but also wanting to put on a great show. And this year we have so many award-winning acts, including Mississippi MacDonald, Errol Linton, Brave Rival, Alice Armstrong and Elles Bailey. We also have some legends of the UK music scene – Robbie McIntosh and Hamish Stuart from AWB/Paul McCartney and the Pretenders….the Climax Blues Band and Squeeze legend Chris Difford. We want quality and variety and I hope we’ve delivered that again.
You play almost everything on “Shadow on the Hill,” which gives it a very personal, almost confessional feel. What does working that independently allow you to express that maybe isn’t possible within the collective dynamic of a band?
Adam: Solo records are pretty uncompromising. You have a blank slate to make whatever artistic statement you want, and “Shadow on the Hill” just wouldn’t work in any other context because of the inspiration behind each song. I love solo albums where the artist plays everything themselves – Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney …it gives the record such a unique home-grown feel, almost naïve in some respects. With my solo albums I don’t have anyone else to blame…for anything! But I’m comfortable with that.
The album also uses the breakdown of a relationship as a metaphor for wider social and political division. Was that a conscious thematic decision from the outset, or did those parallels reveal themselves as the songs took shape?
Adam: A couple of songs into the album I realised that it was a break-up record, which is certainly no new idea, but I wanted it to be thematically relevant to a modern world, and I was aware of a few friends who were no longer speaking to each other because of their clashing political views. I find it heartbreaking, and heartbreak is something I know how to write about! So the idea evolved early in the process. I like that the music can have hidden depths, if you listen carefully.
“Shadow on the Hill” feels more reflective and intimate, yet still melodically strong. What headspace were you in when you started writing this album, and did it feel something that was creatively you rather than something for The Milk Men to explore?
Adam: This was never going to be a Milk Men album, and none of the songs were ever going to be for them. It’s always pretty clear to me early on where songs I write will end up. I think you’ve summed up my headspace for it – reflective. If that’s how it comes across then job done! But as you say, I hope there’s still some good tunes on there. I’d hate to ever forsake melody for a bit of naval-gazing!
My colleague and friend Stevie reviewed The Milk Men album “Spin the Bottle.” (link here)– she wrote how the song “Cheap Seats” had me dancing around the breakfast table, and that NEVER happens! It’s very infectious.” I had a listen and it had me dancing too! I know this is outside the new album, but do you love that track too?
Adam: I love that! I’ll tell the guys. I love “Cheap Seats,” it’s very popular live too, and great fun to play. I enjoy the video as well. We wanted a little smidgeon of Stevie Wonder in there, crossed with ZZ Top! Imagine that video! Lol
You’ve said before that it was important “Spin the Bottle” sounded like “you —no frills, no tricks.” How conscious were you of capturing the feel and momentum of your live shows when you went into the studio with The Milk Men?
Adam: Hmm, that’s interesting cos I’m not sure Bottle is the album that does that best…..I think the follow up, Holy Cow! was leaner and less-frilly in some respects, and closer to our live show….and then of course we did actually release a live album last year, which was very popular. We play so much that people can hear the live Milk Men anytime, and now I actually think they like hearing our music padded out on record a little, and it gives us the chance to have some fun and spread our wings a bit in the studio. We have a new album coming out in the Spring and again, it’s a slightly different sound to anything we have done before, but as long as it holds together and the songs are good, that’s enough for us. If people want the live experience they can come and see us or buy the live album.
2025 was in many ways such a sad year of loss for the music business. We were so sorry to lose Ozzy, Brian Wilson, Marianne Faithfull and Ace Frehley among others. Another name I will mention is Matt Long who passed away on 6/10/24 aged only 29 after struggling from bowel cancer. We interviewed him here at the magazine and were so upset at his passing, such a shock. His passing hit the whole UK blues community and there is an album coming out in March called “With a Little Help From My Friends” that the UK blues community have got behind that we plug when we can.
Adam: I did know Matt a little bit, and his father Paul is a friend on the scene. Paul and Fiona did ask if I’d like to review the album as a guest reviewer in ‘Blues in Britain’ so I have done that, and was very honoured to do so. It would be disingenuous of me to talk of Matt as if he was a mate, I knew and liked him from the scene but there are scores of people reading this who will have known him far far better. What I do know is that he was a fabulous musician. A great singer, player and songwriter. His tragic early death really did rock the scene to its core.
Fun Question -It is a hard winter’s night. The tour van/bus has broken down and a harsh wind blows through the night. Nearby you see a small house, it seems abandoned, yet there is a fire burning, food on the table and working electricity. While you wait for morning – what book and what film will get you through the night?
Adam: Oh I love this question! I am a sucker for re-watching old movies again and again. I’d be very happy with any number of old classics from “Casablanca” to “Some Like it Hot.” I’m also a huge Bond fan, and I can just switch off and get lost in those as I’ve seen them all countless times. I’d be happy to crack open a bottle (or two) of red wine and watch “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” yet again. Especially as it has a scene in it similar to the one you’ve described! I would be happy to revisit Spike Milligan’s war diaries again. I first read them decades ago and loved them, and he’s a comedy hero of mine. So yes, I’d be happy to sit down with Spike again after all these years!
That was an enjoyable interview, but now it’s time to have a listen to the music and lose myself in the album for a while.
So now…My Review
“All the Red Things” opens the album with a dreamy instrumental. It’s a gentle uplifting harmony, a spring breeze rather than a winter storm.
“Holding You Down,” “it’s a sad situation” says Adam, and the song continues with an intimate feeling, a song for a small gathering. There is an emotion so many of us have felt, when you know your love is walking out on you and you can do nothing about it. It is still January and maybe a sad song is indeed best for a winter tale.
“Ill Stand By Her” – I loved the lightness of the instrumentalisation and melody on this one. It celebrates the love inside and the track is a satisfying brew that I was moving along to, it made me smile and that is always a good thing. A song that lifts the spirits always, for me, gets a thumbs up.
“Telephone Silences” opens with a telephone ring tone and stripped back track placing you there with Adam and his guitar. Yet the song also has a bigger sound than the intimacy of 1-1, it reaches out and stands at the gates of heaven where no-one has the key. It is a powerful track that I may have opened up the album with as track 2. It’s funny but the last track was the one that first grabbed me, and this one kept that momentum going even though it is a very different kind of song.
“Nothing Will Repair Me” completes the first half of the album with a neatly harmonic track. It took me more toward those late sixties tracks and it was nicely smooth. I liked the vocals on the track and I could see this getting a few plays on radio.
“Let Her Get on with Her Life” leads with a faster drum rhythm, a bit of shuffle and a dance feel in the most gentle of fashions. The lyrics are kind of sad and regretful for the girl who went away, but the music is upbeat and even poppy.
“You’re Gone” – ‘I tried to speak to You, Silence, you’re gone.’ I could identify with this, I think anyone who has loved and lost can connect lyrically here. It is a gentle swaying song, a lament to a love that is gone…it slots nicely into the mid-section of the album.
“Keep on Living.” As we enter the latter part of the album this track has a message of keep moving forward. It is a slow and intimate track with folk roots.
“Shadow on the Hill,” as the title song for the album, and it does reflect the tone of the album. It is a well crafted song from a talented singer-songwriter. It is a late-night track with a camp fire feel. I liked the touches of backing vocals and the intimate feel of the piece.
“September” closes the album with the sense of falling leaves and the coming chill of the following season.It closes with an instrumental bookending the album as it began.
In summary, Adam Norsworthy’s “Shadow on the Hill” is a quietly powerful, late-night album that rewards stillness and close listening. Intimate, reflective and melodically rich, it feels like a companion for winter evenings when the world feels a little too loud. This is music about love, loss and connection in fractured times — best enjoyed with headphones, low lights and a glass of red. 🎧🍷 Perfect for those nights when you just need to disappear into a record.
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Artist website here
You can stream music from Adam Norsworthy here
By Lorraine Foley
