October 12, 1985
Robyn Hitchcock And The Egyptians
Gotta Let This Hen Out! (Midnight Music CHIME 00.15S) *****
by Ralph Traitor
"That was a song about the West Country before a lot of you were born and after most of you were dead," Robyn Hithcock states to his audience after regaling them with "Acid Bird". And, from him, it makes perfect sense.
Hitchcock has come and gone about a dozen times and some would say he's never really been here at all. This would be a tenable statement if not for his naggingly eccentric and splendidly fantastic music. Hitchcock has interpreted whatever he goes through into a unique edifice.
Poached en situ at The Marquee, Hitchcock sounds in command on this album and the feeling efficiency with which the band dispatch "Heaven", every bit the measure of its title, and "America" makes one realise that the fable of the prophet being ignored in his own country has only limited application. There is nothing faintly second-hand about Hitchcock and if you've never discovered him...you should do it.
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