CUCKOOLAND

Like Wyatt's previous album "Shleep", this was recorded at Phil Manzanera's studio. Again Manzanera and Eno help out along with many other guests including David Gilmour on one track. Man this is a long one, at over 75 minutes this would have been a double album back in the day. All you have to do is read my reviews of Wyatt's solo albums to know i'm a huge fan, but this one and "Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard" are the two I like the least.

"Just A Bit" is a slow moving track with some atmosphere. What stands out the most on "Old Europe" is Wyatt's voice and the horns. "Tom Hay's Fox" is interesting with the dark piano melodies that are joined by horns and spoken words. "Forest" is one of my two favourite songs on the album. The vocals, piano and drums sound really good. Guitar from Gilmour 1 1/2 minutes in. The double bass stands out after 4 1/2 minutes. Clapping and piano 7 minutes in. Wyatt's wife and Eno help out on vocals too. "Beware" is a cool song with the synths, harmonica, percussion and drums. The vocals sound different. Trumpet comes in late.

"Cuckoo Madame" is a song I find humerous.The focus is squarely on Wyatt's vocals. "Raining In My Heart" is an instrumental of piano melodies. "Lullabye For Hamza" features some accordian early and late. Trombone too. "Trickle Down" is the start of part two of the album. Lots of horns and double bass on this one. "Insensatez" opens with vocals right off the hop and they are the focus. Female vocals help out. "Mister E" opens with trumpet as vocals arrive after 1 1/2 minutes. "Lullaloop" is different, that's all i'll say. Haha. "Life Is Sheep" features harmonica and trumpet with vocals coming in later. "Foreign Accents" is interesting lyrically with Robert repeating "Hiroshema Nagasaki". Some trombone on this one. "Brian The Fox" is probably my favourite. Quite dreamy, I really like it. "La Ahada Yalam" is a gentle melancholic track with flute, acoustic guitar and clarinet. It does come to life somewhat before 3 minutes though.

Unlike most Wyatt records this was long on minutes, but short on charm.