Hen Ogledd—the unique, shape-shifting collaboration between artists Dawn Bothwell, Rhodri Davies, Richard Dawson, and Sally Pilkington—have announced their third album, DISCOMBOBULATED, which is slated for release on February 20th via Weird World.
Named after the historical region encompassing what is now northern England and southern Scotland, Hen Ogledd coalesced slowly in the middle of the last decade, fully forming ahead of their 2018 debut, Mogic. The new album, DISCOMBOBULATED, marks a considerable step forward, tackling heavy, contemporary themes. It is perhaps their most complex and emotionally charged record to date, involving meditations on political tumult, personal crisis, and mental well-being in a world gone mad, yet it is also described as their most warmly inclusive and accessible work.
As Richard Dawson notes, “There’s something to Hen Ogledd that’s really not like a normal band. It’s something… else.” This unique dynamic is reflected in their recording process; living in different parts of the UK, they often share musical sketches remotely before convening to hammer them into shape, frequently working with producer Sam Grant at Blank Studios in Newcastle. The initial sessions for this record took place in early 2024, rallied by drummer Will Guthrie.
Along the way, DISCOMBOBULATED opened up to an extensive and unconventional cast of contributors, ranging from field recordings of horses and insects by Chris Watson to the voices of the band members’ children. Guests include spoken-word artists like Matana Roberts and C. Spencer Yeh, and musicians such as trumpeter Nate Wooley. Sally Pilkington observes, “Maybe Hen Ogledd is more like a family than a band.”
However, this familial spirit is coupled with a quiet radicalism and fury at injustice. This thematic core is immediately evident on the new album’s first single, “Scales will fall,” shared today. Featuring Dawn Bothwell’s striking and charismatic lead vocal, the track alludes to protest history—from the women at Greenham Common to the Durham Miners’ Gala—and contemporary organising against corporate greed. Bothwell describes her approach as “Bard rap,” emphasising her drawing on the spoken word tradition. The accompanying video, directed by James Hankins, humorously positions Bothwell as an “alternative populist leader,” provoking a group of kids to rebel.
DISCOMBOBULATED Tracklisting:
- Nell’s prologue
- Scales will fall
- Dead in a post-truth world
- Clara
- End of the rhythm
- Amser a ddengys
- Clear pools
- Land of the dead
DISCOMBOBULATED is available to pre-order on DomMart-exclusive pink vinyl (w/ signed art print), standard vinyl, CD and digitally. Pre-order: DomMart | Digital