Here's what we know so far. The album was recorded in Hitchcock's adopted hometown of Nashville at Brendan Benson's Readymade Studios. Benson is a power-pop hero to many, and his role as producer should excite Hitchcock's fans too. Now, don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed his last album, 'The Man Upstairs,' but it's good to hear him backed by a band again. Many of the roster are from Music City, including guitarist Annie McCue, bassist Jon Estes and drummer Jon Radford. Backing vocals are provided by old friends like Emma Swift, Grant Lee Phillips, Gillian Welch and Pat Sansone.
So, about that first song. Here's what Hitchcock has to say about "I Want to Tell You About What I Want." Here's a guy that will make you stop and listen.
"The original title of the song was 'My Vision Of World Empathy.' Either we will eventually become extinct and be replaced by cats with articulated thumbs who have evolved the way apes slowly evolved into us, or we will become empathic and mildly telepathic — people like Donald Trump won't happen because biologically no human will be born with that lack of empathy. We will become a species that isn't capable of bullying because we can feel what we're doing to other people. There is obviously some evolutionary step between the human and the angel that needs to take place. Maybe when we have enough suffering credits, our DNA will go, 'Right! Here we go! Homo angelicus — it can read your mind, it's compassionate, it can levitate and it's a great lover! It shares its fish sticks with you and flies you back in time to see The Velvet Underground!' That is what we need to become." -- Robyn Hitchcock
4 comments:
Man Brian! That is really, really good!!! The Power Pop meets Post Punk Psychedelia is so sharp... some early in the year gems beginning to pile up...
Fantastic - Robyn rocks!
You're quite right Brian, I've been in high excitement mode since getting the word a couple of days back. My only quibble Robyn (if you're reading this) is that currently the LP pre-sell is only available through the American website, which translates to stonking postage costs and possible additional import duty for us over this side of the pond. So I've held off from ordering for the moment (thus missing out on a limited signed copy), in the hope that a UK distribution deal will crop up soon. Either way, it's excellent news indeed.
Sorry. I have been off the grid for awhile....
Great track! I have been a fan of Robyn's since "Wading Through a Ventilator". I don't know if anybody could have all of his output but for a while I was on that path, not because I was trying to be a completist (ha! A Robyn Hitchcock completist...) but because I couldn't get enough. Very recently my buddy and I got to see him perform at Daryl's Place (a GREAT small venue here in upstate NY owned by Daryl Hall...). Apparently his set list came from folks who were invited to create it on line. It, of course, was a great show.
Love this track. Kind of blends that Hitchcock sound w/a Soft Boys bang. And of course it's always fun.
So thanks Brian for the sneak peak, and I hope all is good with my friends here at LTL!
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