We're Not Who You Think We Are
Album: Element of Light
Year: 1986
. . .
I somehow doubt that when Robyn Hitchock wrote “Lady Waters & The Hooded One” — a story song about a woman facing death via the Plague — he knew that it would ever have any kind of contemporary resonance. But here in the waning days of 2020, it kinda does.
Album: Element of Light
Year: 1986
. . .
The first time I saw Robyn Hitchcock & The Egpytians was in November, 1986, just a week after my 24th birthday. It was at the Berkeley Square in, yup, Berkeley, and the opening band was the Young Fresh Fellows, who I never loved as much as they deserved, especially considering Scott McCaughey’s post-YFF career.
In any event, I think it was another one of those one-night roadtrips where we drove up from Fresno that day, and back home afterwards. In between was an awesome concert: I remember really enjoying Robyn’s surrealistic stories before and after songs — hinted at during Gotta Let This Hen Out!, but taken to extremes during an actual show — and just the awesome musicality of the Egyptians.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1963: Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – “Never Stop Bleeding”
Album: Element of Light
Year: 1986
. . .
“Airscape” just might be my favorite Robyn Hitchcock song.
It’s most certainly one of his favorites, from all accounts, and it’s the centerpiece of the second side of one of his greatest records, Element of Light, floating in on a backwards guitar, already in progress.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1962: Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – “Airscape”
Album: Element of Light
Year: 1986
. . .
I guess it could have gone either way, couldn’t it have? When Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians recorded Fegmania! they were just coming together as a band — keyboardist Roger Jackson didn’t play on half of the songs — and you could kinda tell it.
Of course, by the time they recorded Gotta Let This Hen Out! they’d figured out how to gel together, but it was a bit of a question as to whether or not that cohesion would continue the next time they went into the studio.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1961: Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – “If You Were a Priest”