Customer Reviews

Element of Light

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I fell hard for Robyn Hitchcock back in the early/mid eighties when folks here in the States first got hip to him. I defended him from bad reviews in angry letters to the Village Voice, and got my good black cashmere coat stolen at some rank place he was playing in downtown NYC.

I can't call myself a rock and roll fan anymore; I listen mostly to classical radio, and buy the occaisional roots-rocky or Brit folk CD. OK, so I'll be 50 in a couple of years...but "Element of Light" is still wonderful. In fact, I've listened to it again a few times, lately, and it sounds even better than I thought it was back in the day.

"Winchester" still does it for me--gorgeous zillion part harmony awash in nostalgia. "Airscape" is still one of the most breathtaking pieces of neo-psychedelia I've ever heard, and even prettier than "Winchester"--an absolute benediction of a love song. The wacky songs, especially "Bass" are well-crafted mood-brighteners, totally unique. "The President" captures perfectly the nastiness of the Reagan years. Robyn's angry horror at news about Reagan's infamous cemetary visit still resonates. It's uncanny that a Brit could get it so right.

Let the folks who are fanning the flames at Robyn's website argue over whether this is as good as "Fegmania" or whatever. This is a smart record with its heart beating in just the right place. Buy it. It won't be out of your CD player for two weeks--I promise.

Well this is it - the most pop-y of the 'egyptians' albums (except Perspex Island, which is a different kettle of dimes altogether) and possibly the best. If you've never bought an Egyptians album before this is a very good place to start. From the rocking 'If you were a Priest' through to the slightly psychedelic bonus track 'The Leopard', this little honey of a disc takes you on a fabulous journey through the minds of Robyn, Andy and Morris (but mostly Robyn). The rock of 'The President' and 'Tell me about your drugs' is carefully balanced with mellow floaty tracks such as 'Airscape', with silly catchy tunes about threesomes (Ted, Woody & Junior), with popp-y numbers with unforgetttable lines ('I'm gonna burn your bongos tonight!'), simple fairy tales to delight and frighten your children ('Raymond Chandler Evening', 'Lady Waters and the hooded one') and plain daftness ('Bass').

A marvellous, very listenable experience. Buy it. Love it!

At last, this unfortunately long out of print record is available again. This album was quite possibly Robyn Hitchcock's best work in those heady 1980's new wave days. Hitchcock, on guitar, along with the incredibly underrated Andy Metcalf and Morris Windsor (as good a pop guitar and rhythm section unit as Lindsay Buckingham, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, if I dare say so) reached one of those points where everything was clicking wonderfully. After this, Hitchcock, long an underground and college radio favorite was picked up by a major label, where he produced some really good tracks on mediocre albums, and then further on (after that failed project) began producing Syd Barrett type albums seemingly for himself and die-hards only. But here in 1986 (if memory serves), Hitchcock's influences of John Lennon, Capt Beefheart, Barrett, Lou Reed, Dylan, The Byrds and Jim Morrison inspire him to weave a personal, and wonderful tapestry of sound and image. As the title and cover artwork implies, this is a somewhat lighter album in terms of texture, compared to say, his Soft Boys work, Fegmania! or Groovy Decoy, and it's chock full of wonderful melodies and harmonies. The sequencing of songs is also spot on. "Airscape" is simply phenominal! If the more serious mid-eighties new wave/pop music received the critical attention that the better album rock records got a decade and a half earlier, this one surely would have received it's due as a modern rock icon LP. (It seems that other tracks have been added for this release, as yet I've not heard them).

In a parallel universe(which, by all appearances, is where Robyn really exists, and we're merely seeing his ghost), almost every song on this album would be a massive radio hit. Once again, we find Robyn channeling John Lennon; this time, mostly from the Plastic Ono Band era. If it weren't for Hitchcock's oblique lyrics, several of the songs here would have been played back to back on the radio with R.E.M. hits of the same vintage, which comes as little surprise, since it was around this time Robyn first started hanging out with Peter Buck of R.E.M.. A couple of years after this album came out, Robyn opened for R.E.M. on their U.S. tour. He almost stole the show, and I'll never forget at one point he says "Please welcome my friend 'Kenny' on the guitar". 95% of the audience was oblivious to the fact that 'Kenny', playing killer 12 string electric while sitting on a stool was none other than Peter Buck. This is a great album, although the recording quality on the CD could have been better.

Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians / Element of Light (Rhino Records version): This is wonderfully written and is generally performed in a happy and lively manner, although he does have a few somber songs like, "Raymond Chandler Evening". This is a real treat. This album earns Five Stars.

It seems the stars were fully aligned for Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians when they released Element of Light in 1986. In my opinion this one and Jewels for Sophia contain Hitchcock's most consistently great tracks. Element of Light is better and more focussed than the previous release Fegmania. The album personnel included Andy Metcalfe, Morris Windsor, Roger Jackson, James Fletcher and Chris Cox. What a band and what a weird, wonderful trip Element of Light is. Many of the songs on this album were staples on college radio in the day. I just love the entire set, especially If You Were A Priest, Winchester, Something Apart, Bass. Raymond Chandler Evening, Airscape and Tell Me About Your Drugs. While Robyn Hitchcock was schooled in Syd Barrett strangeness and his odd voice hints at John Lennon at times, he is an artist with a singular vision who incorporates his influences to create unique alternative rock. Element of Light is a true gem!

every cult artist has his peak where he makes the one album that leaves behind originality-streches out for the mainstream but still maintains his integrity. For me and i think for Hitchcock this is it! This is the one album i always recommend to friends- because its accessible enough to like but still challenges the listener with left of center sensibility. Element of light is pure and simple just a great pop record. Some hints of radiofriendly traditional structures tempered with enough (what the hell) adventures that make for an interesting and engaging spin. light is produced well played well-has enough original hitchcock in it( though we all know its the ghost of syd barrett) and is solid and varied in its approach. GReat post punk psychedelic new wave pop. One of the better 80s albums up there with sound affects by the jam- strawberries by the damned and the clashs sandinista. I still say this is where to start if your new to Robyn hitchcock! you wont be disappointed.