Eternal Rhythm: Terry Hall - Laugh
Released in 1997, Laugh was Terry Hall’s second solo album and a reminder of his singular voice in British pop. Known first as the deadpan frontman of The Specials, and later for his work with Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, and a string of collaborations, Hall had built a reputation for dry wit and understated delivery. Laugh continued the path he’d set on his 1994 debut Home, but with a warmer, more melodic touch that reflected his growing ease as a solo songwriter.
Co-produced with Cenzo Townshend and featuring contributions from long-time collaborators like Craig Gannon (The Smiths, Aztec Camera), the album blends chiming guitar pop with a bittersweet lyrical edge. Tracks like “Ballad of a Landlord” and “Mister Freedom” balance sharp social observation with Hall’s knack for conversational storytelling, while “Summer Follows Spring” and “Happy Go Lucky” offer gentler, more reflective moments. His voice - calm, unhurried, and unmistakable - carries both melancholy and humour in equal measure.
The album’s centrepiece is “I Saw the Light,” a beautifully measured cover of Todd Rundgren’s classic. Hall strips away the original’s soft rock sheen, delivering it with a restrained intimacy that makes it feel like a confessional rather than a declaration. Elsewhere, “Love to See You” and “For the Girl” capture the understated romanticism that had always bubbled under Hall’s more ironic exterior.
Laugh didn’t aim for big chart moments, and perhaps because of that, it’s aged gracefully. It’s a record of small details - the turn of a phrase, a subtle guitar line, the way Hall’s vocal sits just behind the beat - and its strength lies in that understatement. Coming at a time when Britpop was still dominating the airwaves, it felt out of step with the swagger of the moment, but entirely in step with Hall’s career-long habit of doing things his own way.
Today, Laugh stands as a quietly assured album from an artist who never chased trends, preferring instead to refine his own style. It’s a snapshot of Terry Hall in reflective mode - observant, melodic, and effortlessly himself.
Buy: Laugh here