Soft man

>> Latter-day psych-pop icon
Robyn Hitchcock’s “children’s songs
for adults” only improve with age

BOTTLING TIME: Robyn Hitchcock

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

In the early ’80s, the U.K.’s Robyn Hitchcock was just another budding young songwriter, with John Lennon’s nasal twang, a fondness for Syd Barrett’s two solo records and a unique lyrical style that went way past the pop staple of boy-meets-girl. But before too long, Hitchcock left the comfy pop-rock confines of his band the Soft Boys and stretched out as a solo artist, delving further into gently demented psych-pop. Along with other “paisley punks” like XTC and Nick Lowe, Hitchcock beat the path that arena rockers like R.E.M. would soon find footing on (R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck has been a regular member of Hitchcock’s backing band Venus 3).

Despite the glowing accolades heaped upon him, though, he remains a cult figure in the history of rock. Hitchcock’s long career recently earned him a retrospective look with the documentary Sex, Food, Death… and Insects and a box set featuring three of his classic ’80s solo records and rare tracks spanning the decade. This would be all well and good if not for the fact that Hitchcock is now doing his most impressive work, as last year’s amazing Olé! Tarantula clearly displayed.

Mirror: You are touring on the strength of a retrospective box set. Considering some of those songs are over 25 years old, do you now play them with a new perspective?

Robyn Hitchcock: Oh, yeah—if anything, I now play those songs at about half the speed. I listen back to those records now and everything sounds too fast. In terms of the emotions of those songs, I’m happy with the songs and I can still relate to them. Songs are really just a way of bottling time to me, and when I sing those songs now, I just kind of re-inhabit what I was—but I can still feel a link back to that time.

M: What do you think the ’80s Robyn Hitchcock would’ve told the current Robyn Hitchcock?

RH: I definitely think he would’ve said, “Hey Robyn, you’re playing my songs too slow,” or, “Get on with it, grandpa” (laughs). I would describe the younger Robyn Hitchcock as… uh, frightened and uncertain as to whom he was. There was also a sense of arrogance that comes with not really being self-assured. At the same time, I think I was a better songwriter than I gave myself credit for at the time, and I wish I could’ve relaxed a bit and said, “Hey, I’m not so bad.”

M: Your songs have often been described as surrealist psychedelic pop music. How would you describe your songs?

RH: I’ve always thought I just write children’s songs for adults.

M: Has it ever offended you that you are constantly mentioned as a cult musician?

RH: Not at all. I always wanted to be in a cult band but I just didn’t know what that meant. All the people I liked when I started playing music were people like Captain Beefheart, Arthur Lee, Syd Barrett, Nick Drake and a bunch of others. I have always loved the Beatles and obviously they are the biggest band of all time, but I think if they were not all together, Lennon and McCartney could’ve easily been cult figures themselves. I’m really quite pleased where I am right now.

With Sean Nelson at Cabaret on
Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m., $25