Richard Dawson unveils "Gondola" from forthcoming February album
Richard Dawson
Releases new song “Gondola” – watch video here
End of the Middle album out next month
Upcoming live shows
Photo credit: Sally Pilkington
Next month, Rich(ard) Dawson releases his new album End of the Middle – due Feb 14th - and today, he unveils the third song from the record with “Gondola”. Sung from the point of view of a grandma reflecting on her life – past, present and future - whilst watching a variety of daytime TV shows, glass in hand, the words "soft-boiled egg" never sounded so beautiful.
Continuing to step into other people's shoes, Dawson extracts a great deal of poignancy and emotional punch from the confined setting of a tv-blasted living room. Like the rest of the album, it's richly detailed, evocative, tactile and almost has the transportive ability to put you in the places and scenarios it describes.
The video for “Gondola” is directed by CLUMP Collective and stars Jenny Coverack - it's the first video of Rich(ard)’s to hand the “vocals” over to the song's protagonist
Watch the video for “Gondola” here.
Stream “Gondola” here.
CLUMP Collective said of the process: “We had a wonderful time filming in the frosty streets and cozy pubs of Bristol with the talented Jenny Coverack. Rather than visually illustrating the song, we let Rich’s imagery-rich lyrics take centre stage, focusing on the power of narration. Collaborating with Rich and Jenny was a true pleasure.”
End of the Middle is partly inspired by his love of the films of Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu, the album focuses around a family unit. “It zooms in quite close-up to try and explore a typical middle class English family home,” Dawson says. “We're listening to the stories of people from three or four generations of perhaps the same family. But really, it’s about how we break certain cycles. I think the family is a useful metaphor to examine how things are passed on generationally.”
Watch the videos for the previously released “Boxing Day sales” and “Polytunnel”.
End of the Middle is available to pre-order on Dom-Mart reverse-playing vinyl, indies-exclusive vinyl (with signed print), Dinked-exclusive yellow vinyl (with 7” of 2 bonus tracks), standard vinyl, CD and digitally. Pre-order: DomMart | Digital
Upcoming live dates:
Friday 14th February – Rough Trade East, London
Saturday 15th February – Resident, Brighton
Monday 17th February – Rough Trade Bristol
Tuesday 18th February – Bear Tree, Sheffield
Wednesday 19th February – Beatdown outstore @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle
Wednesday 23rd April - Stoller Hall, Manchester – Sold out
Thursday 24th April – Stoller Hall, Manchester
Friday 25th April - Brewery Arts, Kendal
Sunday 27th April - City Varieties, Leeds
Tuesday 29th April - Clapham Grand, London
Thursday 1st May - The Gate, Cardiff
Friday 2nd May - Metronome, Nottingham
Saturday 17th May - The Glasshouse, Sage 2, Gateshead
Tuesday 20th May - Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh
Wednesday 21st May - St Luke's, Glasgow
Thursday 22nd May - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Friday 23rd May - St George's, Brighton
Saturday 24th May - Quarterhouse, Folkestone
Tickets
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