Robert Wyatt

Maybe the most sensitive and talented artist to emerge from the Canterbury scene. The earlier drummer and vocalist of Soft Machine started his solo career in 1970 with an unique and astonishing example of free music called The End Of An Ear. A few time later he defintely left Soft Machine, that was becoming a too straight fusion band, to form Matching Mole and follow an interesting direction between experimentation and melody. In June 1973 a terrible accident left him paraplegic and changed his personal and musical future. During the months of convalescence and the state of crisis that he passed through he composed the touching songs of Rock Bottom, one of the most deep and inspired album ever, published in '74. Experimentation and melody are finally perfectly amalgamated to create a portrait of the artist's soul, struggling between desperation and hope, and self-pity is avoided with a touch of bitter irony. These are my impressions, but I feel that everyone can relate to this music in a very personal way. Many old friends and good musicians give their contribution to the making of this masterpiece (including Ivor Cutler, who sadly died a few days ago).
Sea Song is the opening track, on which he also gives a good example of how he can use his thin voice as an instrument. This version was played in 2003 for a BBC documentary about Wyatt.
Soon after the release of Rock Bottom the single I'm A Believer brings a moment of relief from the album's gloomy atmospheres. The nice melody of the Monkees' song is made precious by Robert's voice and the refined arrangements. The video is from the Top Of The Pops archive, you'll recognize Pink Floyd's drummer Nick Mason, who produced Rock Bottom...and could it be that the guy with the acoustic guitar is Andy Somers/Summers, the future guitarist of The Police?
Wyatt never reached the inspiration of those days again, but still his rare productions are precious events that deserves all of our attention.

Robert Wyatt - Sea Song (2003)
Robert Wyatt - I'm A Believer (1974)

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I hope you'll enjoy these clips

Bye

Mirco