I first heard Richard Dawson on Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone, when his previous album 2020 was featured and wasn’t sure at first. After three songs I got it, and have since been an avid admirer of Dawson and his work (with Hen Ogledd and Circle, as well as his solo stuff). I was lucky enough to see him gig in Folkestone early in 2022, and he gave a captivating and humble performance, easily my gig of the year.
So, let’s relax, and soak up his latest offering, presented as the third part of a trilogy - Peasant was set in past Britain, 2020 in the present, and The Ruby Cord in some simpler (post-apocalyptic?) setting. The opening track , The Hermit, is 40 minutes long, so is either over indulgent and drawn out, or relaxed, taking its own time, depending on mood. I’m in the latter camp, enjoying the quiet minimalism of guitar notes and occasional violin over snare drum and single note bass, and we're eleven minutes in before the first vocals, a lovely song showcasing Dawson as a wordsmith, in his trademark Newcastle falsetto. An acapella section follows, ending with a lovely harp piece by his fellow traveller in Hen Ogledd, Rhodri Davies. And this same cycle continues, without dragging, before we move into the final 15 minutes of the piece, a gentle guitar melody, which tees up the enchanting choral ending. It’s a long piece of stunning beauty, and feels like an album worth in itself.
This leaves the rest of the album, six more songs, with a “follow that” challenge, which Thicker Than Water makes a strong attempt at, but The Fool isn’t nearly as strong. Museum makes the album’s setting clear, without matching the earlier intensity. The Tip Of An Arrow is Dawson in a more rocking mode, and the album ends with Horse and Rider, a jolly toe-tapper giving an upbeat finish.
This is another splendid addition to the Dawson catalogue, although the second half doesn’t match the power of The Hermit.
4* - a stunning first half, which probably leaves some good songs which follow sounding just OK. But a great album, nevertheless.
Comments