Robyn Hitchcock 11: Perspex Island

Eye was such a strong album that Robyn’s next project with the Egyptians was much reason for excitement. Unfortunately, the ingredients just weren’t there.

Perspex Island begins promisingly enough with a pair of excellent, driving tracks. “Oceanside” does a lot with a little, and “So You Think You’re In Love” is a nice relation to “Flesh Number One”. But from there, a lot doesn’t add up. “Birds In Perspex” and “Ultra Unbelievable Love” are mildly redeemed only by the backing vocals, so kudos to Andy and Morris. “Vegetation And Dimes” doesn’t mean anything, though we’re getting close to the programmed acoustic style of the next album. It’s unclear who “Lysander” is or why he’s got a song about him (and actually it’s not a song so much as a spiral riff).

“Child Of The Universe” has the same title as an obscure Byrds song, but if we’re going to ask Mark Isham to play trumpet, can’t he play something less like a car horn? “She Doesn’t Exist” tries to be sensitive and everything, but with Michael Stipe la-la-ing everywhere it’s distracting. (This was right around Out Of Time.) “Ride” uses one chord for a very long time, not unlike “Love” from Black Snake Diamond Role in feel. “If You Go Away” fills the mysterious role (as did “Vegetation” on side one) but the tension it sets up is let down by “My Earthly Paradise”, which just drags on and on until the end, although there is an attempt to lift the album to an up note on the last verse.

Perspex Island has its moments, but just doesn’t reach the highs of the Egyptians’ better work. It was disappointing to think that the good eggs had all gone into Eye’s basket.

Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians Perspex Island (1991)—3
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