WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING

WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING was the first album i bought from KEVIN AYERS and always it has hold a special place in my heart as listening to this album reminds me the good times of my childhood back then in 1972. It is also one of the best releases of the ex-SOFT MACHINE member. This recording has some of the best songs KEVIN AYERS ever recorded, but also, KEVIN being KEVIN , a few odd ones as usual preventing WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING to be a masterpiece.

THE WHOLE WORLD has been disbanded but MIKE OLDFIELD and DAVID BEDFORD are back with DIDIER MALHERBE from GONG taking over COXHILL on horns. ROBERT WYATT as an old friend also joins on the title track for a duet with KEVIN. I am schocked that this album so far has gotten only ...8 reviews so far on PA,a site supposedly dedicated to prog artists. I just hope this album gets more reviews in the future as it deserves it.

The album opens with THERE IS LOVING/AMONG US which happens to be my all time- favorite AYERS song! This is a beautiful mini-suite, 7mns long, composed by both AYERS and BEDFORD, very prog, but in a beautiful way with exquisite brass arrangements and an orchestra playing very dramatic grandiose music, not your usual typical AYERS song, for sure. A very symphonic KEVIN, we have here, indeed. It shows also how talented AYERS can be when he really tries to come up with great music. That's too bad he wouldn't go further in this direction, as he had the potential.

Great things happen again with the next perfectly sequenced song ''Margaret'' which keeps us in the mood.A beautiful romantic ballad, very intimate KEVIN AYERS sings with his deep voice. I don't know how ''Margaret'' could resist him after that!! a beautiful poem sung in a perfect romantic setting with lush strings arrangements and the gentle accompaniment of some nice piano.

But that's still a KEVIN AYERS album as the charm is brutally interrupted with the next track'' OH MY'' a simple ballroom old jazz silly tune, fun for sure, but totally out of place after the great 2 first songs. What a schock! Sounds more like a octoberfest kind of song ,if you see what i mean. But, hey, that's KEVIN AYERS! you have to expect stuff like that.

However, we are back on the good tracks with the great psychedelic SONG FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL which sounds exactly like the title indicates. An experimental track sung by a creepy voice sounding like coming from the grave.But that's nicely constructed,even if it ends in total mayhem; could have been featured on the SOFT MACHINE first album. After the Octoberfest tune, now we are treated to a perfect HALLOWEEN song. A -once again- different AYERS, but a good one at that.

Another highlight of WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING is the 8mns title track, a gorgeous ballad KEVIN knows how to compose, a sweet gorgeous piece sung by KEVIN joined by the fragile sounding voice of pal ROBERT WYATT on the chorus.This is all charming with the beautiful female backing vocals in the background talking about having good time with a -again- good glass of wine.

KEVIN AYERS will never been mistaken with ROGER WATERS or PETER HAMMILL regarding his lyrics; Actually, KEVIN is the perfect antidote to the other 2. AYERS is not dealing about death, loneliness, depression or any other mental anguish. AYERS just see the good things of life can bring and just want to enjoy the best of it be it wine, good food, laziness on the beach or pretty woman. There are no bricks in the wall in the world of KEVIN AYERS. just good time!

The next song STRANGER IN BLUE SUEDE SHOES is one of his biggest ''hits'',(if there are such things like ''hits'' in his career), a very catchy tune that is still performed by AYERS these days; Not very prog, not very complicated, but pleasant, very AYERS to make it short. Another big surprise is the next-completely unexpected- ( really!!) CHAMPAGNE COWBOY BLUES that comes like a hair in the soup. KEVIN goes western, with one of those ballads you can hear in those old John Wayne movies where the cowboys sing under the stars around the fire at night after a long day in the outdoors , only interrupted in the middle by a reprise of the circus theme from JOY OF A TOY CONTINUED from the first album. Typical AYERS.

The album ends with the short cute instrumental LULLABY, a good way to close it with a very nice flute solo from DIDER MALHERBE. WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING is a great album with its usual imperfections when it comes to a KEVIN AYERS recording. But that's what makes it charm , doesn't it? Somewhere between 3.5 stars and 4 stars deserving more than -now- 9 reviews!

4 STARS

Share this KEVIN AYERS review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to febus
• Report this review (#138262)
• Buy KEVIN AYERS music online with PA partners
• Show all KEVIN AYERS MP3/Stream
• Go to KEVIN AYERS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Whatevershebringswesing page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for KEVIN AYERS related discussions