Richard Dawson, the black-humoured bard of Newcastle, returns to release his sixth solo album 2020, his first since the critically acclaimed, Peasant. 2020 – out on 11th October 2019 – is an utterly contemporary state-of-the-nation study, that uncovers a tumultuous and bleak time. Here is an island country in a state of flux; a society on the edge of mental meltdown.
The first single from the album comes in the form of “Jogging”, a chugging pop track that deals with the meditative benefits of jogging in dealing with anxiety, told through the aches and pains of middle-England. The video was directed by Edwin Burdis.
On 2020, Dawson introduces us to grand themes through small lives. His are portraits of human beings struggling with recognisable (and dare we say it, relatable) concerns, conflicts and desires, each reminding us that tragedy and gallows humour are not mutually exclusive, and that the magical can sit next to the mundane. Lyrically it is by far Dawson’s hardest-hitting and unflinchingly honest album to date. It is his poetic masterwork.
Within, we find disgruntled civil servants dreaming of better days, anxiety-addled joggers listlessly searching Zoopla for houses they cannot afford in their spare time, amateur footballers who think they’re Lionel Messi and beleaguered pub landlords battling rising floodwaters.
Here is life, in all its strange and wonderful ways.
2020 is available to pre-order now:
Pre-order the deluxe LP with accompanying 2020 comic book by David Squires HERE
Pre-order CD HERE
Pre-order digitally HERE
2020 Track List
Civil Servant
The Queen’s Head
Two Halves
Jogging
Heart Emoji
Black Triangle
Fulfilment Centre
Fresher’s Ball
No-One
Dead Dog in an Alleyway
Richard Dawson Live Dates
Tue 19th Nov – London, Moth Club
Wed 20th Nov – Brighton, Komedia
Thurs 21st Nov – Manchester, RCNM Concert Hall
Fri 22nd Nov – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
Sat 23rd Nov – Liverpool, Studio 2
Tue 26th Nov – Glasgow, CCA
Wed 27th Nov – Edinburgh, The Caves
Thu 12th Dec – Newcastle, Sage Gateshead