[rating=9.00]
Robyn Hitchcock is, by most people’s definition, a curious fellow. His random musings about life and happenstance make both his music and his persona as charming as they are challenging. A wordsmith like no other, his wry observations find him amusing and thoughtful all at the same time, the result of an unrestrained wit expressed on both stage and in song.
Naturally then, an eponymous album would seem the ideal vehicle to spotlight Hitchcock in all eccentric glory. While song titles such as “I Pray When I’m Drunk,” “Mad Shelley’s Letterbox” and “Detective Mindhorn” definitely hint at his knack for conjuring up an unusual, nonsensical narratives, it clearly takes a determined listen to fully appreciate the depth of the man’s mirth and merriment.
In reality, the similarities go far deeper that any initial impression. The aforementioned “Mad Shelley’s Letterbox” and “Detective Mindhorn” reflect classic Hitchcock in trademark Brit rock mode, complete with a full stock of quirky references, psychedelic flourishes and a delivery that’s ironic and iconic all at the same time. The unhurried cascade and serenade that accompanies the ballad “Sayonara Judge” would make a perfect fit with any of his early efforts at the helm of the Soft Boys, the Egyptians or the other outfits he associated himself with during his formative years from the mid ‘70s through the early ‘80s. The sweetly subversive “Autumn Sunglasses” fully reinforces those retro references as well. And if the influence of his relocation to Nashville quietly seem to surface on “I Pray When I’m Drunk” and “1970 in Aspic,” the country noir doesn’t diminish his particular intents or enthusiasm.
Still, for all its familiarity and instant brand recognition, Robyn Hitchcock is an offering that stands out in a universe all its own. A singular artist and remarkable aural architect, Hitchcock’s has produced yet again an album for the ages.
