Lifestyles
Thursday, March 11,1993
The Battalion
Page 5
Robyn Hitchcock demands ‘Respect’ with new album
Music Review
By JOE LEIH
The Battalion
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
"Respect"
A&M Records
Robyn Hitchcock's album "Respect" not
only marks his fifth release with his band, the
Egyptians, at A&M Records but also proves
that the music veteran is greatly overdue for
the quality that is the terse title of his new col
lection of songs.
Hitchcock, acquiring his own philosophy of
love, death, and religion after sixteen years in
the music industry, weaves these elements
with surprising skill and vividness through
out the entire album.
Yet his poetic lyrics are not the only deter
minant in the tremendous quality of this new
release. Hitchcock's blend of folk, British pop
and incredible harmonies help bring his
haunting themes out with gooseflesh-giving
emotion.
Still, Hitchcock's ultimate talent is his force
ful imagery. His flowing verse carefully swal
lows the listener into a crafted understanding
of the idea so richly expressed.
In "The Moon Inside," the probing lyrics
bestow an ironic twist upon the popular no
tion of a link between a full moon and love.
Hitchcock sings "when the full moon seed/It
be plant in you, then it's what you
need/Cause the flower of Love growing in
your heart/Will eventually tear your world
apart."
Robyn Hitchcock weaves a philosophy of love,
death, and religion in his album, "Respect."
Another song, "Arms of Love," evokes a
beautiful portrait of heartbreak and recovery.
"Maybe tonight you're crying/Like a poor
wounded dove/Tomorrow you'll be
flying/Into the arms of love."
Hitchcock even ventures to taunt Lucifer
himself in the "Serpent at the Gates of Wis
dom." "I will take control/God above and all
his angels, have mercy on your soul."
Hitchcock's musical style, which greatly
enriches these philosophical themes, has obvi
ously been shaped by the Beatles. "Railway
Shoes," "When I Was Dead" and "The Wreck
of Arthur Lee" all contain falling harmonies
reminiscent of the group's classic singing
style.
In fact, Hitchcock even prints "Respect is
due to ... John Lennon" inside the cover.
However, this strong influence manages
not to restrain Hitchcock from expressing his
own unique musical technique.
His original blend of a single acoustic!2-
string guitar and eerie bending tones gives a
chilly aura to "Then You're Dust." An inven
tive continuous crescendo greatly adds to the
emotional climax Hitchcock reaches in
"Arms of Love."
Hitchcock creates a fabulous fast-moving
tempo in "The Yip Song" that will surely elic
it side-to-side head bobbing from many lis
teners.
This musical artist has definitely created a
tremendous accomplishment in the rock and
roll world.
But wait! That's not all. Hitchcock, a recog
nized painter and short story writer as well,
has a special bonus offer with this album.
An original and quite bizarre fairy tale-like
short story is included with the song lyrics,
and Hitchcock's own personal artwork even
graces the album cover.
So, don't just listen to the artistry of Robyn
Hitchcock, view it and read it as well.
But above all, give this artist what he truly
deserves-"Respect." &
' ' *' * ■Vv
-
Austin to host 7th annual
music festival next week
By JOE LEIH
The Battalion
Four hundred bands from
around the world will converge
on Austin for the seventh annual
South by Southwest Music and
Media Conference (SXSW '93)
from March 17-21.
Over 20,000 music fans are ex
pected to attend the conference's
Music Festival, which will feature
bands playing rock, rap, jazz, met
al, country, tejano and world beat
music in over 25 clubs throughout
the city.
Wristbands that will give admit
tance to all clubs are being sold for
$30 through Star Ticket Outlets.
The conference will begin with
the 11th Annual Austin Music
awards in Palmer Auditorium on
Wednesday evening.
On the next night, Governor
Ann Richards will speak at the
opening of three days of panel
discussions, sessions and work
shops on topics from "Sex, Sexism
& Rock" to "Music Biz 101."
A "showcase of the spoken
word" will be held on Thursday,
March 18, giving performers such
as musician Robyn Hitchcock and
storyteller Rae Linda Woad the
chance to exhibit their poetic ability.
SXSW '93 will also include a
trade show involving more than
3,500 music businesses, record la
bels, artists and studios.
Over the seven-year history of
SXSW, the conference has contin
ued to grow and expand, moving
this year from the Hyatt Regency
to the Austin Convention Center.
SXSW publicist Jo Rae Di Menno
said, "Being in the convention
center is a big step."
The global music portion of the
conference has also expanded.
"We definitely have a lot of in
ternational bands performing," Di
Menno said. The World Wide Mu
sic Showdown, sponsored by
Rolling Rock beer, will feature
music from over 85% of the world.
Baba Yaga from Moscow and Bu
dapest, Hungary will be one of
several foreign acts performing on
Friday, March 19 at the Austin
Convention Center.
SXSW '93 is sponsored by
Southwest Airlines, KLBJ-FM and
KXAN-TV.
Miss Molly, Trout Fishing in America and Joe "King" Carrasco will pertorr
i-J in the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference Mardh 17-21.
COMING SOON TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU.
With Visa® you’ll be accepted at more than 10 million
places, nearly three times more than American Express.
And that’s not a misprint.
i'-.v-V'.
Visa. It’s Everywhere You Want To Be?
1
. ©Visa USA. Inc 1993 —