ROBYN HITCHCOCK & The VENUS 3: "Propellor Time". New Album Out March 22nd
“Anglo-psychedelic master”-- The Independent
Over the past three decades, UK singer/songwriter/guitarist/painter/actor Robyn Hitchcock has amassed an extensive and distinguished body of work that has established him as one of rock music’s most respected and beloved iconoclasts.
A musician’s musician, and still criminally underexposed despite a long history of critical appreciation, Hitchcock’s vivid surrealist song craft has over the years earned him a devout international fan base – including filmmaker Jonathan Demme who in 1998 directed Hitchcock’s live performance film Storefront Hitchcock, shot in a derelict shop window on 14th Street in NYC.
A prolific renegade and visionary cult artist, Hitchcock has released numerous albums with his longstanding outfits The Soft Boys and Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians, as well as his own ample solo work of which Propellor Time (Sartorial Records) is the very latest.
Recorded in 6 days at home in London’s Tropic of Hounslow over the Summer of 2006 and beyond, Propellor Time is no single-handed effort: The Venus 3, Hitchcock’s backing band for this recording boasts the rhythm section of Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows) on bass and Bill Rieflin on drums (formerly of Ministry and Revolting Cocks). Making a rare appearance as a sideman outside his usual group, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck (on 12 string and acoustic guitars) completes this esteemed line-up and is co-writer of the album’s title track with Hitchcock. This same Venus 3 configuration of Buck, McCaughey & Rieflin appears on Hitchcock’s 2006 release Olé Tarantula!,
The home sessions for what became Propellor Time were featured in John Edginton’s BBC Four documentary Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death… and Insects. ‘We wanted to create a sprawling record like The Basement Tapes: so we sprawled for a week and then spent 3 years editing it’, said Robyn.
Additionally, a star-studded array of illustrious guest musicians collaborate with Hitchcock on Propellor Time; selected tracks feature contributions from John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin/Them Crooked Vultures); Johnny Marr (The Smiths/Modest Mouse) who co-wrote the track he plays on, “Ordinary Millionaire” with Hitchcock; old pal Nick Lowe; and former Soft Boy/Egyptian band mate Morris Windsor among many other notables.
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Out March 22nd 2010, Propellor Time is Hitchcock’s second release on Sartorial Records, its predecessor being 2008’s Shadowcat (a collection of ‘90s outtakes). But 2009 was hardly a fallow year for Hitchcock having seen the advent of both a studio album Goodnight Oslo (on Yep Roc Records with the Venus 3), as well as the recently released live concert DVD, I Often Dream Of Trains In New York, shot by acclaimed director John Edginton and featuring Sartorial head honcho and multi-instrumentalist Terry Edwards.
Having recently participated in Graham Coxon’s Power Acoustic Ensemble concert at The Barbican, Hitchcock will be making several other special appearances in the run-up to the release of Propellor Time. His dates for January are:
Way To Blue – a series of Nick Drake tribute concerts featuring Green Gartside, Vashti Bunyan, Teddy Thompson & others.
Jan 20 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Jan 21 - Brighton Dome
Jan 22 - London Barbican
Jan 23 - Warwick Arts Centre
SHIFT Cape Farewell Festival
Robyn Hitchcock presents a maritime evening w/ special guests Graham Coxon, Kathryn Williams & KT Tunstall
Jan 30 - London Queen Elizabeth Hall
http://www.robynhitchcock.com
http://www.myspace.com/robynhitchcock
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