Robert Wyatt Comicopera
Prickly British art-rock singer/songwriter Robert Wyatt remains one of the unsung talents of our time, […]
Prickly British art-rock singer/songwriter Robert Wyatt remains one of the unsung talents of our time, largely because Wyatt has shown zero interest in music-industry success. Like his music–which has never fit comfortably into any particular category–the former Soft Machine drummer, paralyzed from the waist down for over 30 years, has proved unpredictable, devoting himself to politics and music equally. Comicopera, loosely characterized as an eclectic arrangement of symphonic folk compositions, spans at least three different languages and vocally unfolds from different characters. Brian Eno helps out here, but don’t expect anything pop: “Mob Rule” shows Wyatt in his signature falsetto, delivering a quiet, psychedelic hymnal for social change and peace. Long live crazy fools everywhere.