INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Now up to his umpteenth recording, Robyn Hitchcock remains the type of musician fans scurry to obtain the latest recording of. But this simple task is not very easy because his recordings are not held by the usual stockists. Nevertheless, like Billy Childish, Hitchcock remains prolific in adversity and continues his quest for cosmic thrills in the way you would expect a left-of-centre folkie troubadour to do.
The Man Upstairs sees Hitchcock mutter and croon his peculiar way through some originals and cover versions of the likes of Roxy Music, The Doors and The Psychedelic Furs. ‘The Ghost In You’ is unlike the original post-punk carnival and ‘San Francisco Patrol’ is a head-held-low lament of an introvert awaiting the sunset. The drawl of ‘Trouble In Your Blood’ and ‘Somebody To Break Your Heart’sees our hero lying like a knight on his bed, hands folded across his chest. He fought the good fight and gave it his best shot. The cover versions are stubbornly iconoclastic and eccentric.
The Man Upstairs is exquisite in many ways and topical in others, leading to the assumption that Hitchcock should be regarded not so much as an influence but an inspiration.
4/5.
The Man Upstairsis out now through Yep Roc.
