OLD ROTTENHAT

I'd like to honour Wyatt - the most outstanding individual of Canterbury Scene, I think - by 4 stars, but maybe this album is indeed a bit too monotonous. Let's say 3,5*. There are no many of his albums I've heard but it's obvious he deserves a special status as a man who goes his own paths and don't give a damn about pop business. (That's not entirely a good thing.) I find some similarities between Wyatt and Brian Eno, they both need only a couple of chords to build up a song - and just themselves to play it. Peaceful organ/keyboards dominate this album. As lyricists Wyatt is often very political and on this album themes like class boundaries, foreign politics, mass media or selfishness as modern ideology are delivered very openly. Musically I like most the opening track 'Alliance' and higher- tempoed 'Age of Self'. Comparisons to Dutch art pop group NITS can also be made. Even to David Sylvian in maturity. So, not only for Canterbury/ Soft Machine diggers - but not for everyone either.