Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences play a wonderfully quirky brand of anti-folk that could only come from these fair shores. Their songs are constructed in a way that puts the minutiae of British ways and customs firmly under the microscope and then gleefully dissects them to expose their often ridiculous nature to all and sundry. And they do it so well by being masters of mixing oddball lyrics with black humour and meshing biting satire with sometimes poignant political comment.

They maybe an acquired taste certainly, but one worth making the effort for, and while they are unlikely to achieve widespread acclaim they are another typically (and delightfully) unorthodox addition to the long roster of idiosyncratic British bands.

We’d already given you one track from critically acclaimed recent double CD album Apologies to the Enlightenment and now they are making their new single available for free download. The content of I’m In Love With A Hospital Receptionist is pretty self explanatory so sit back and enjoy the tale.

You can buy the album from good record shops or via label The JezusFactory here.

Visit their MySpace here.

Download Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences – I’m In Love With A Hospital Receptionist mp3 (from Apologies to the Enlightenment)

Download Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences – Monkey Serum mp3 (from Apologies to the Enlightenment)