Richard Dawson - End of the Middle Review
Richard Dawson’s End of the Middle is a quieter, more introspective tale of the everyday.
Richard Dawson; quite simply, a quirky man. If not for his distinctive vocals, his canny lyricism and capability for world building puts him into a league of his own. His vision is large, with an output that details of the ambitious and the Avant grade. Take his collaboration with Finnish experimental rock group ‘Circle’ which results in the album ‘Henki’, each track in relation to the life of trees and plants. Quirky, right? ’The Ruby Cord’ opens with a forty one minute track (eat your heart out, Fishmans) ‘Hermit’ to enter you into the doomy end of a trilogy of albums. Quirky, admittingly. And that was that, so ‘End of the Middle’ is a tale of the now.
It is more of a muted, demure project in comparison to previous behemoths. This allows for acute introspection to take place. ‘Gondola’ is a song that acts as lessons in the ultra-ordinary. His ability to carry simple narratives across a 7 minute track and have it be enticing is remarkable.
‘I’m so tired of hearing awful Christmas songs’, Dawson sings on ‘Boxing Day sales’ The introduction of the wonky sax is refreshing, at this point of the album, a break in form and burst of otherness that refreshes the palette. ‘Polytunnel’ is grossed in sweetness, bare, matching his syllables to each along to each pluck at times, straightforward strumming. Throughout the album, a clear attractive point is coming to the realisation of knowing this narrator in one shape or form. It’s the elderly couple who indulge you in conversation about their retirement activities. It’s the taxi driver who complains about the state of the country. The child who goes into detail about what he had to dinner. This relatable pull provides charm and wonder in surplus.
‘End of the Middle’ is an inviting album to broach if new to the world of Dawson, showing his musicality and style of song writing. It does feel flat at times, lacking in body, but nonetheless enjoyable.