Friday, October 24, 2008

Robyn Hitchcock - black snake diamond role (1981)



Robyn Hitchcock's debut was above all a great pop record, as seen in the airy power-pop "Man Who Invented Himself", the sugary boogie "Meat", the disco parody "Do Policemen Sing". Occasionally presenting himself as the new-wave version of Syd Barrett, like in "Brenda's Iron Sledge" (Arnold Layne era), or Jim Morrison ("Lizard").

A more original recipe can be found in "Acid Bird" (Byrds-ian guitars, funk bass, martial beat, lysergic melody, choral background), "I Watch The Cars" (a hard rock, surf, psych and punk pastiche), or even the melancholy ballad "Love".

Psych or not, the common denominator between all the songs is the catchy singalong melodies. Get it here.

7 comments:

alantru said...

One of my all time favourites.

Jim Slip said...

It's quite a nice little pop record, isn't it? Btw, nice blog you got there; nice mixture of 80's and 90's singles. I added it to the links. -)

alantru said...

Thanks jim slip, but I can't take credit for the Castles in Space blog. Mostly because it's not mine. It's just listed as a blog I happen to follow -- much like I do this one now. My long since updated website features a ranting ant that I ran for King of England, PM of Canada, president of USA and for Pope. He didn't win any of those jobs.

Jim Slip said...

Well, Kitchen Cynic, it's a shame you didn't get any of those jobs. I could do with a few high connections these days. -)

alantru said...

I think we all could. ;)

Greg Spencer said...

Cheers for this. I got hooked on Hitch with "I Often Dream of Trains." Now I'm trying to get everything I can by him.

kevinesse said...

where is the other side of the rekerd?