The Aurora Review
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Fall 2004 |
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Spooked
Yep
Roc Records British pop-rock singer
Robyn Hitchcock has a reputation for being a touch eccentric, and Spooked,
his new musical collection featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings,
will certainly fuel that perception.
The songs on Spooked range from the tender, acoustic-laden folk of
“Television” to the pop-infused, Beatles-inspired “Creeped Out” to the
satirical spoken-word track “Welcome to Earth.” Throughout, Hitchcock’s
strong melodies and poetic lyrics prevail. Hitchcock’s sense of irony and
penchant for uncovering the oddities of life are apparent in the more
rollicking songs such as “If You Know Time” and “Demons and Fiends” while his
predilection for the melancholy is showcased in “English Girl” and the
closer “Flanagan’s Song.” Rawlings’
unpolished production, replete with audible footfalls and conversational
outtakes, adds to the album’s overall eccentricity. Rawlings and his
singing/songwriting partner, Welch, contribute their harmonious vocals to each
track -- underscoring the mood for each song, by turns sad, rollicking,
earnest, and absurd. Hitchcock’s own
voice is a multifaceted force to be reckoned with -- cracking and sighing on
his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Tryin’ to Get to Heaven Before They Close the
Door”; tenacious and howling on “We’re Gonna Live in the Trees”; alternately
haunting and gravelly on “Sometimes a Blonde”; and tender and melodic on
“Full Moon in My Soul.”
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