Option
March/April 1985
Robyn Hitchcock: I Often Dream of Trains
by Chris Stigliano
With Punk and Heavy Metal coming in for revision, it was only a matter of time
before Progressive Rock would be changed by a new generation who harken back
to the halcyon days of looking through the import bins for the latest releases
on Harvest and Vertigo. Robyn Hitchcock (formerly of the Floydian Soft Boys)
is from England, so he could pick up the albums by the bushelful, and it seems
like he picked up a ton of Kevin Ayers/Syd Barrett-styled twisted Prog-Pop that
reeks of early-'70s art-deco that flourished on these labels 'til Punk
looked like a better money-maker. Hysteria always repeats itself, and where
The Soft Boys epitomised the British LSD experience, Hitchcock takes off into
early deviations of the dregs of Carnaby Street. I kinda expect Hitchcock to
go into hiding until 1987, when he'll appear at a Mont de Marson-styled Punk-fest and release a few obscure 45s until fading into retirement once again.
(Midnight Music, POB 333, Bushey, Watford, WD2 3UN, UK)
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