Review by LarryG
3 stars out of 4
Hitchcock is one of the brightest, most imaginative songwriters around.
Perspex Island was an effort to use a polished, rocking sound to introduce
his quirky songs to a broader audience beyond his cult following.
Commercially, it didn't work. Hitchcock's following has become even
smaller in the 90's. But musically, Perspex Island is a success,
retaining Robyn's unmistakable personality on great rock songs. With the
help of REM's Peter Buck on guitar, the Egyptians seem to have a great
time. So You Think You're in Love is giddy fun. Hitchcock's normally
deadpan, very English vocals seem enlivened by the simple, straight
forward sentiment as well as Buck and the band's playing. Ultra
Unbelievable Love finds Hitchcock in an even more ebullient mood. The song
has the form of a 70's rocker with big power chords but has unique
Hitchcock touches with lines like "there are no jokes in the Bible,
Keith" and "Every night I vibrate internally, that's my form
of prayer." Oceanside is another great rocker with a great Andy
Metcalfe bass line. Child of the Universe is a goofy psychedelic guitar
rocker. Mark Isham's trumpet adds to the buoyant mood. Generally
the slow songs don't work as well as the fun ones. Vegetation and Dimes
is a bore. But She Doesn't Exist, with a nice assist from Michael Stipe,
has the eerie beauty of Hitchcock's earlier classic ballads like (Insert
to come in the next e-mail). Hitchcock's voice isn't great. It wavers
and struggles with the high notes but fits with his loopy personality
and sense of humor. On Perspex Island, some of Hitchock's interesting
eccentricities are sacrificed to keep the music going but generally his
distinctive songwriting and great rock and roll are both given a chance
to shine.
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