Richard Dawson - Republic of Geordieland (2020)

I found it ok at first but a couple of months into lockdown I started to feel quite down about all the unplayed gigs and lost moments, a bit more anxious than usual and pretty disconnected. So I wanted to make something small (but proper) to try and reconnect. I hope this collection might be something hopeful, or at least a useful distraction.

I had the title 'Republic of Geordieland' in my head for years and always envisaged it would be some grand overblown quadruple-vinyl prog-folk opera or suchlike. Well, it's not that. It's turned out to be a dilapidated, disparate collection of instrumentals and vocal pieces that I've made during lockdown, as well as a couple of things that've been knocking about for ages but which never found a home.

Frankly, it's a dog's dinner. But a dog's dinner may still offer some nourishment!

There's a couple of songs on here I wrote for Matt Stokes' fine film This Liberty, which I really like to sing. There's also a long guitar and drum-machine spa called 'The Minotaur of Cowhill', which I hope is the aural equivalent of a maze. And, as a proud Newcastle United supporter, I'm pleased to submit a new guitar piece bearing the name of our friendly city's anti-racist motto, 'We are black and white'.