Rockpool
August 15, 1991
Robyn Hitchcock And The Egyptians
Perspex Island
A&M
by Jennifer Buermann
Robyn Hitchcock has always dwelt alone, in a strange and cheerful little primaeval hut made of protoplasm reinforced with rusted guitar strings with a roof that's open to the sky and a door that's open to the sea. And invitations to the Hitchcock hut are always accepted with alacrity -- this one being no exception. Songs like "Oceanside" and "So You Think You're In Love" -- heard in their acoustic form on Robyn's last tour -- leap into full-fleshed life and attain instant-classic status. "Ultra Unbelievable Love" rocks -- internal vibration and all -- and "Child Of The Universe" swirls wildly out of a blatting, flamencoesque horn explosion. "Vegetation And Dimes" and "Ride" take the A(cid)-train, digging the colors reflecting off the window panes. "She Doesn't Exist" is a drily updated "My Wife And My Dead Wife", a charming pastoral melody with lyrics that woo you and nip at your heels. Dotty enough to let his Beatlesque songwriting abilities wander beyond the pale (and at the same time clever enough to avoid Syd Barrett-style implosion), Robyn Hitchcock has managed to entertain both us and himself for a good long while -- and shows no signs of stopping. The hut is filled to the rafters with sea life -- and shaking fit to burst. If you're one of the lucky ones, you'll squeeze in.
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