Sunday Mercury
February 6, 2000
Genius Puts The "Out" In Outlandish
by Jon Perks
To describe Robyn Hitchcock as an "eccentric genius" is something of an understatement on both counts.
On one hand you have a man who can pen catchy tunes at the drop of a hat; on the other you have someone who rambles on about the M25 being built by the Romans and a plover ready to lay its eggs.
"This next song I wrote for the Psychedelic Furs -- except to date none of them have heard it, and they've been spilt 10 years," was how he introduced one song in his set at Ronnie Scott's last Sunday.
It got a laugh, but there were also more than a few puzzled looks at what was coming out of Hitchcock's mouth when he wasn't singing.
Looking like a floppy-haired Peter Cook clone in flowerprint trousers that wouldn't have looked out of place on Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, Hitchcock certainly puts the "out" into outlandish.
Fortunately the music is sublime, and you soon forget his outbursts that make him sound nuttier than a Dundee cake.
The songs are packed with humour -- "Antwoman", "Cheese Alarm", and "No, I Don't Remember Guildford" all teemed with wit and a good line in well-scripted tunes.
At first alone onstage, the set resembled Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense film -- bandmembers coming onstage one by one until the full complement were on board for the majority of songs.
This was a great night and a fitting end to the Songwriters' Festival.
Hitchcock left a lasting impression on all present -- and hopefully shifted a few more copies of his excellent Jewels For Sophia album.
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