Billy Bragg returns to his full time career as a protest singer and releases his new single The Sleep of Reason on the Cooking Vinyl label.
Inspired by his visit to The Prado Gallery in Madrid where he saw the etching of The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by Goya, it’s a critical anthem with a sharp, stark melody.
The single was written in response to events that occurred throughout 2016 and is the first of several songs Bragg plans to release over the course of the coming months.
Bragg says, “The title (of the Spanish etching, The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters) struck a chord with me when trying to understand the events of last year. The lies and hubris of the Leave campaign in our EU referendum were echoed and amplified by Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Only by restoring empathy and reason can we hope to defeat the monstrous forces of nationalism and untruth.”
The Sleep of Reason is out now.
