Richard Dawson - The Ruby Cord ALBUM REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 24 лис 2022
- Listen: richardmichaeldawson.bandcamp...
While a bit rockier of a journey than the previous two albums in this trilogy, The Ruby Cord is still quite an accomplishment from Richard.
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FAV TRACKS: THICKER THAN WATER, THE FOOL, MUSEUM, HORSE AND RIDER
LEAST FAV TRACK: THE TIP OF AN ARROW
RICHARD DAWSON - THE RUBY CORD / 2022 / DOMINO / PROGRESSIVE FOLK
8/10 www.theneedledrop.com/loved-l...
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
I must admit I'm quite invested in this record. Richard did a series of events around the UK where he showed the music video for track one The Hermit in small independent cinemas followed by a Q+A with him and the video producer. I went to it and so experienced the song in a darkened cinema with the video images as well. I also got a copy of the vinyl in blue at the event. It was an incredibly immersive experience, you immediately had to get into the much slower pace, as the video moves the same pace as the music with a 10 minute slow-moving montage of various seemingly unconnected scenes.
It's an album to really invest time in. For a cursory listen I don't think it holds up, it's too weird, to foreground and too slow. But for an evening sitting down with a cup of tea and the lyric booklet, to be enjoyed with the same attention you'd give to a Netflix series, it is incredibly rewarding.
Thematically 'Peasant' was stories from a medieval village, 2020 was stories from the present day and The Ruby Cord is stories from 500 years in the future. It's not totally clear what the narratives are, but it seems to be a world where humans have largely escaped into virtual reality (the headset on the knight in The Hermit, the reference in The Museum to humans escaping into loops of light, the empty streets and abandoned motorways whenever anyone goes anywhere).
Overall I agree it's not as immediate as 2020. I shared the video for Jogging with all my friends and everyone got it. I don't think everyone will get this one, but for those who do it could be their favourite album of the year. It's that kind of album.
Thanks for this comment, that sounds really interesting, and the context makes it all much less daunting. It took me a bit too fully love Peasant, but I kept with it bc I at least immediately could see the songwriting was brilliant. 2020 was far more immediate, almost to a jarring degree after Peasant.. Then came his collab with Circle, which I instantly loved, and also discovered the group he’s in, Hen Oggled, and especially came to love Free Humans (though I realize none of that is part of the trilogy work)…
Anyway, all that is to say I love the art that Dawson has produced, in collaboration and solo, but I’ve not made it very far with this album yet. Part of that is time, but also I just find myself feeling like I’m not absorbing that mammoth opener.. I guess I need to buy this and immerse myself and stop trying to get it via Apple Music! Is the video available with the album, do you know? Did you get it with the vinyl, or was this something only for theaters? I’ll gladly pay extra to get all the parts, especially to Dawson who I think deserves much more recognition as one of the great artistic minds today. 🙏✌️
@@nikolademitri731 I just Googled 'Richard Dawson The Hermit Film' and it looks like it's not available to stream anywhere yet.
My feeling is it'll probably be on UA-cam once enough time has passed after it's done its run in cinemas.
I've got it on vinyl. It's a double disc, the entirety of disc one is track one, spread over both sides.
So I often start the album on track 2 (the start of disc two), in which case the album is a lot more immediate. That super-slow pacing really comes from track one.
Can confirm this is my favourite album of the year
@@SmartStr33t thanks for the reply, I’m getting more into it already. Love what he does so much, brilliant! ✌️
Me and a friend saw one of the viewings for the Hermit in Leeds. Can say that the film adds a lot and really fits with the music.
during the summer my flight was boarding when i spotted Richard waiting at the next gate with his guitar...
I ran over and just said what a huge fan I am and thanked him for his music and he shook my hand 🥲
he really is one of the greatest folk singer songwriters of our time and he needs 100x more recognition so thank u antny for spreading the word
I think the pay off on tip of an arrow is one of the best bits in the album
I absolutely love the long opening track. If the entire 80 minute album had just been those first 10 minutes on a loop, it might've been my album of the year.
The Hermit is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever heard. I've cried buckets every time I've listened to it.
Richard just has such a raw and beautiful voice
Me too!!
RAAAAAAAAAINBOOOOOWWWWW
This is a black midi situation, the fact that I was a little disappointed that he didn't give this album a 9 or higher shows just how incredible this album actually is.
At the end of the day, the fact that the trilogy started and ended on a pretty great note still is an accomplishment of Richard Dawson's craft.
Another solid body of work from him and a very fair score from Fantano. I found his previous project "The Selfish Gene" really thought-provoking, so I'm glad he's presenting even more interesting ideas on this project.
Definitely a sit down listen w/ great headphones. Fantastic painting album
i'm going to do exactly that soon, i'm stoked.
The long track is almost free improv at the start, and I was most reminded of King Crimsons 'Moonchild' from their debut album, which also caused some controversy back in '69.
True. It reminded me of Vincent Gallo's RRIICCEE project
Surprised to see he stopped hosting family feud to record an album
I was thinking the same thing
Is that actually the same Ricard Dawson? 💀💀
@@Sunkhrist nah, he died of cancer ten years ago
@@tylerpurrden releasing posthumous albums like Tupac.
Lmao
I've been waiting for this review...Wow, so much to digest in the music. The first long track is dark, rich and foreboding. I will say it again, Richard Dawson is OUR modern day Geoffrey Chaucer. The trilogy is the equivalent of The Canterbury Tales and will stand the test of time for decades to come! Wonderfully vivid and rewarding..thanks Anthony
AOTY Contender.
This one was amazing, he stuck the landing at the ending of his epic trilogy.
I saw Richard late last year, despite being just him and a guitar to a room of 100 or people it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. Totally captivating - if you get chance to see him live its well worth it - really deepened my appreciation of him as an artist.
I absolutely ADORED this record and I wasn't expecting to neither. It's like falling in love, it always happens when you don't expect it.
Yes. Thank you Melon Person for shining a light on this fantastic and uncategorisable wonder of a musician. Also, Richard if you are reading this, which are probably not because internet comments are cancer, please come to Melbourne, Australia. You can play in my backyard. I will make you a very nice cup of tea.
i knew the hermit would hold this album back from a yellow, but i was really hoping it wouldn’t. for me, the song is so intriguing with richard’s wonky playing and singing that it genuinely feels like a 15 minute song to me
Wasn't loving this album as much as everybody but god that first song is magnificent. Easily one of my favorites this year
Think this is my favourite of the trilogy, but honestly every album has been a home run imo. The melodies on this one are amazing and meld perfectly with the lonely atmosphere that permeates the album. Lots on here is the most tuneful stuff I've heard from Richard yet none of the complexity or progressive qualities are lost.
The song concepts overall are a bit more abstract and it took a few listens to give me a better picture of the unified whole, but the imagery of the music painted an immediate picture. I'm sure it's bolstered by the album art, but I think of Howl's Moving Castle-esque automatons wandering through abandoned settlements and empty landscapes still teeming with the life that could adapt. It's an interesting dystopia less preoccupied with massive destruction and more obsolescence and resignation to whatever form of humanity remains drifting about with no sense of mankind's progression or end goal.
After a half a dozen listens, the opening track honestly feels much less like a chore than it initially did for me, and the lengthy open shows more deliberation both musically and conceptually, akin to a human waking/computer booting and developing consciousness in real time. Every section feels like an integral part of the emotional progression, tho admittedly I have a great deal of patience when it comes to music I enjoy.
Rest of the tracklist is incredible so it's hard to pick out highlights. Thicker Than Water is an incredible tune that's a nice bustle after the opener, and I love the descending vocal lines and how knotty it feels despite progressing in a very satisfying way. The Fool is pretty insane and highlights how naturally all these disparate elements can be out together, and Museum is hauntingly gorgeous and maybe a nice lyrical breather that is still satisfying but easier to digest.
Especially love the ending three tracks - I think Tip of an Arrow best balanced the strange rustic-future dichotomy and I love the poetry and desperation of everything, feeling closer to the intimacy of Peasant. Horse and Rider is just gorgeous and I like that album ends with songs that evoke that "human" connection still exists even with the world transformed into something alien, looking into a distant future even less comprehensible to us now, sharing our uncertainty.
Honestly could go in detail on every song, but really the album pulled a lot of what I loved about both Peasant and 20/20 and formulated it into something unique that feels both grandiose and intimate. What it lacks in some of that bombastic catharsis you'd get from Ogre or Dead Dog, I think it has this lovely sense of quiet beauty and isolation and longing. Further proof Richard is one of the most interesting and consistent forces in folk wholesale in my adulthood
Absolutely love the album! I have been listening to it in chunks-either The Hermit or the following tracks depending on my mood. Breaking it down this way makes you truly appreciate it as a whole and saves you from getting impatient getting through the first 40 mins.
this is how i listened as well. it really feels like two albums that are tightly knit
i love the opening textures of the hermit sm omg
Big props to our melon boy for pumping out back to back reviews these last days
So... black and white flannel is the new 8? You've been scaring the hell out of me with this shirt since Kendrick's new album, thinking it would be a middle score.
This man has not yet missed thus far. Super excited to listen to this one.
This is awesome and the excessive size of Hermit is cool. There's a lot of details in the production as well that I'd like to chew on more so I'm buying a CD of this.
This was a really nice review Anthony thank you
These are the 53 scores from the records in the 2022 Loved List!
1- (STRONG 9)
Viagra Boys - Cave World
T2 - (Decent to STRONG 9)
Black Midi - Hellfire
J.I.D - The Forever Story
Natalia Lafourcade - De Todas las Flores
T-5(DECENT to Strong 9)
Black Country,New Road - Ants From Up There
Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems
T-7 (LIGHT to Decent 9)
Ashenspire - Hostile Architecture
Baby - Petrol Girls
Silvana Estrada - Marchita
T-10 (Strong 8 to a LIGHT 9)
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Conway the Machine - God Don’t Make Mistakes
12- (STRONG 8 to a Light 9)
billy woods - Aethiopes
T-13 (STRONG 8)
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Topical Dancer
Chat Pile - God’s Country
T-15 (Decent to STRONG 8)
Beyoncé - Renaissance
Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen
T-17 (DECENT to Strong 8)
Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
FKA twigs - Caprisongs
Gospel - The Loser
Kenny Beats - Louie
Leikeli47 - Shape Up
Lupe Fiasco - Drill Music in Zion
Otoboke Beaver - Super Champon
Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful
25- (DECENT 8)
Nav - King Disease III
Smino - Luv 4 Rent
T-27 (Light to DECENT 8)
Artificial Brain - Self Titled
Autopsy - Morbidity Triumphant
Death’s dynamic shroud - Darklife
Foxtails - fawn
Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B
Kralice - Crystalline Exhaustion
Meridian Brothers - Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento
OFF! - Free LSD
T-35 (LIGHT to Decent 8)
Beach House - Once Twice Melody
Black Thought & Danger Mouse - Cheat Codes
Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry
T-38 (LIGHT 8)
Ariel Lennox - age/sex/location
Daniel Rossen - You Belong There
JER - Bothered / Unbothered
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Laminated Denim
Wormrot - Hiss
T-44 (Strong 7 to a LIGHT 8)
Backxwash - His Happiness Shall Come First Even Though We Are Suffering
Benny the Butcher - Tana Talk 4
Black Dresses - Forget Your Own Face
Bladee & Ecco2k - Crest
Cheekface - Too Much to Ask
Freddie Gibbs - $oul $old $eparately
Kilo Kish - American Gurl
Richard Dawson - The Ruby Cord
The Comet is Coming - Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam
The Weeknd - Dawn FM
Great album review as always.
Perhaps the first track could have been on a separate disc from the rest?
honestly this trilogy of albums richard made is one of the most ambitious, poignant, and genuinely beautiful bodies of work anyone in folk has ever put together, definitely do think The Ruby Cord is the weakest but its still amazing and just falls short of being a masterpiece imo. couldnt be more excited to see where he goes from here, hoping he gets his well deserved strong 10 one day 🙏
Ooh, I'll check this one out
I think I need to listen to this album at least 5 or 6 times before fulling judging it as it's nowhere near as immediate as Peasant and 2020. I struggled with the opening track but enjoyed the rest of the tracks on first listen. I saw him when he was promoting 2020 and it's one of the best gigs I've been to. A real one of a kind singer-songwriter.
If you can get the word. 'Ommatidia' - an insects compound eye - into song lyrics you are a feckin genius in my world.
The Hermit is the best track I've heard in the last 10 years.
I started to listen to his stuff after 'Jogging' turned up on my youtube recommendations, I bought the album 2020, and haven't looked back since.
The hermit reminds me of a mixture of early 70s king crimson and Canterbury scene stuff. Particularly Robert Wyatt. That and 90s and 00s post rock.
Loved him on Family Feud
Haven’t listened to it, but I’m really liking the album art
What’s that record with the moon in the background? Very curious about it
I'd also like to know
Bit late, but it's Polyhymnia by Yazz Ahmed.
The Hermit was inspired by open-world gaming. Think Skyrim or Breath of the Wild. Keep that in mind while listening to the whole album, but especially The Hermit. It’s an immersive experience - imagine a future where VR has become so integrated into daily life that it basically IS life for most people. Contrast that with what the narrator teaches in the Tip of an Arrow:
“Yes, it matters how we learn
Real knowledge must be earned
Everything else is a husk:
Wisdom′s simulacrum”
Great album-nothing else like it out there.
"Tarkus" was the first album that came to mind when it comes to "albums with a really long opening track, but the rest of them aren't that long, and oh, the whole album is 7 songs in total". But even that is like half the runtime of "The Hermit"
My first thought was 2112
@@shadydayspecialofficial7767 Makes sense! Haven't listened as much to 2112, but you really got a point there
The closer of this album made me drop a tear or two. Beautiful album, Richard is insanely creative, 9/10 for me.
I wasn't as big on this record... Even though 2020 and Peasant were some of my faves of all time. It felt like the aesthetic was similar to Fresher's Ball but for almost the entire album. OF COURSE there was diversity on some of the middle tracks.
Also, the last 2 records had an overall sound that matched their respective eras, but this one felt completely disconnected from the 'future" it was describing. At least to me.
Great lyrics as always. love the production, love Richard. Solid 6.9/10.
Edit: Ok already up to a 7.5 and just love the closer
Really want him to review the two new Ka albums
I hope Melon will review Jakey’s new album
still no 'show me the body' review before the end of the year?!?! also would love you to check out 'enumclaw' and their debut 'save the baby' its my album of the year
THATS WHAT IM SAYING RICHARD DAWSON DOESNT MISS!!
Review Trha. They dropped 4 esoteric weird black metal albums this year.
Absolutely love The Hermit tho I can agree that it does feel long winded at the start. would`ve loved to watch the film he made specially for The Hermit. im sure it would make it even better.
Hey melón, could You Review the nakey JAKEY album?
Will you review Thaiboy?😅
I know come on
Has fantano already reacted to the new Polyphia album?
Review the new Jakey project, ROMCOM... please
Review the new broken bells album???
what are the records in the background of the shot.
What is the album in the background?
Another great album from Richard
Agreed
Does this man ever sleep?
I couldn’t even finish listening to the first track. My wife’s carrot cake she made for my birthday was bomb
Why is fandango not reviewing foushée?
that flannel made me a little nervous ngl
HES SITTING!!!
Please review Built to Spill
Phenomenal album. Dawson's done it again.
Crazy album.
Awesome record
The tip of an arrow is Litterally the best song
Review languish arts and woeful studies antny pls
Review Letter Asian and The China by Cicice!
you should review The Generation Of Danger by Tallah next
YES!!!!!!!
the melon is starting to like music now
Hi Fantano.
Where's the Yellow Flannel MELON?
WHERE IS IT?!?
if the guy on the album cover had a bunch of melons in his backpack you would've given this a 10/10.
*THE HERMIT IS THE GREATEST SONG OF 2000'S*
*FIGHT ME*
Best thing about this album is the cover. FIGHT ME
I can't agree since Joanna Newsom exists and slightly trumps Richard Dawson, and since Peasant and 2020 are front-to-back slappers and bangers, and Adrianne Lenker and Ichiko Aoba also exist, all of which muddies the waters. Cosmia by Joanna Newsom from her Ys Street Band EP takes the cake for me, but The Hermit is certainly up there, since Richard Dawson is a Top 5 21st-century artist any day of the week.
review Kadjavsi - Second Sun!
I love Jean Dawson
Jakey review?
classic flannel time.
damn so no rap Ferreira??
The Hermit top 1 song
mr fantano please review the aftermath by dystopia
Where’s the review for lanceys new album
REVIEW THE JAKEY ALBUM
Survey said... an 8/10!
The Vile Stuff brought me to this point.
Classic Richard Dawson W
Man when are you gonna cover feed tha streets 3 or Kutthroat business Volume 1
review MIKE's Disco! album
Refuse to believe you don’t still use RYM on the d.l.
Up the tooooon
Review Island by Asunojokei
I was wondering, are you a fan of ROMCOM?
Pls react to the hackle’s new album called gunsmith tha mixtape
Any chance you will review Neil Young’s new album? It’s really bad.
You will be in love with The Hermit eventually.
RAAAAAAAAAINBOOOOOWWWWW
anyone else notice the recent reviews are getting shorter and shorter? this and the BH one are his longest in a while
nahhhhhh your opinion suckz! the first ten minutes of the hermit is the most beautifully brave and vulnerable opening to a piece of music i have heard in years - think Steve Reich - don't be assessing it using pop-song mechanics its not that nor trying to be that. Wen't to watch him play it live, and the sensitivity of the players weaving between each-others parts was more like watching a sonic collage, using (carefully considered) spacing out of musical textures to adjust to the lengthened and observant perspective of the Hermit character. It does require your attention perhaps, but thats on you to not be looking only for the sensational moments. (probably also the problem with being the busiest internet nerd is that you don't actually listen to the music with the time and space to actually understand whats going on).
Antonio el Fantas
Where the polyphia revjew at?
Water Melon. Water melon. Melon. Water. melon water melon. what are melon?
melon
y'okay?
@@atlassolid5946 no.