If You Were a Priest [#/*/demo version] - Robyn Hitchcock,
Airscape [Live][#][*]
The Leopard [#][*][Demo Version]
On Element of Light, The Egyptians glide between regal pop and driving psychedelia, resulting in of the most deliberate and nuanced college rock records of the decade. EOL and other Egyptians' records from this period are ... more »widely credited with introducing Hitchcock to American audiences and remain some of the most significant releases in the career of one of music's great explorers. EOL also includes bonus tracks curated by Robyn himself that do not appear on the original version of the album.« less
On Element of Light, The Egyptians glide between regal pop and driving psychedelia, resulting in of the most deliberate and nuanced college rock records of the decade. EOL and other Egyptians' records from this period are widely credited with introducing Hitchcock to American audiences and remain some of the most significant releases in the career of one of music's great explorers. EOL also includes bonus tracks curated by Robyn himself that do not appear on the original version of the album.
This is one of my favorite records in the world--still!
Christine Potter | Rockland, NY | 03/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I fell hard for Robyn Hitchcock back in the early/mid eighties when folks here in the States first got hip to him. I defended him from bad reviews in angry letters to the Village Voice, and got my good black cashmere coat stolen at some rank place he was playing in downtown NYC. I can't call myself a rock and roll fan anymore; I listen mostly to classical radio, and buy the occaisional roots-rocky or Brit folk CD. OK, so I'll be 50 in a couple of years...but "Element of Light" is still wonderful. In fact, I've listened to it again a few times, lately, and it sounds even better than I thought it was back in the day. "Winchester" still does it for me--gorgeous zillion part harmony awash in nostalgia. "Airscape" is still one of the most breathtaking pieces of neo-psychedelia I've ever heard, and even prettier than "Winchester"--an absolute benediction of a love song. The wacky songs, especially "Bass" are well-crafted mood-brighteners, totally unique. "The President" captures perfectly the nastiness of the Reagan years. Robyn's angry horror at news about Reagan's infamous cemetary visit still resonates. It's uncanny that a Brit could get it so right. Let the folks who are fanning the flames at Robyn's website argue over whether this is as good as "Fegmania" or whatever. This is a smart record with its heart beating in just the right place. Buy it. It won't be out of your CD player for two weeks--I promise."
Varied, listenable, classic!
Christine Potter | 09/08/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well this is it - the most pop-y of the 'egyptians' albums (except Perspex Island, which is a different kettle of dimes altogether) and possibly the best. If you've never bought an Egyptians album before this is a very good place to start. From the rocking 'If you were a Priest' through to the slightly psychedelic bonus track 'The Leopard', this little honey of a disc takes you on a fabulous journey through the minds of Robyn, Andy and Morris (but mostly Robyn). The rock of 'The President' and 'Tell me about your drugs' is carefully balanced with mellow floaty tracks such as 'Airscape', with silly catchy tunes about threesomes (Ted, Woody & Junior), with popp-y numbers with unforgetttable lines ('I'm gonna burn your bongos tonight!'), simple fairy tales to delight and frighten your children ('Raymond Chandler Evening', 'Lady Waters and the hooded one') and plain daftness ('Bass'). A marvellous, very listenable experience. Buy it. Love it!"
All the hits that could have been
wm | ...onward....thru the fog! | 11/17/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In a parallel universe(which, by all appearances, is where Robyn really exists, and we're merely seeing his ghost), almost every song on this album would be a massive radio hit. Once again, we find Robyn channeling John Lennon; this time, mostly from the Plastic Ono Band era. If it weren't for Hitchcock's oblique lyrics, several of the songs here would have been played back to back on the radio with R.E.M. hits of the same vintage, which comes as little surprise, since it was around this time Robyn first started hanging out with Peter Buck of R.E.M.. A couple of years after this album came out, Robyn opened for R.E.M. on their U.S. tour. He almost stole the show, and I'll never forget at one point he says "Please welcome my friend 'Kenny' on the guitar". 95% of the audience was oblivious to the fact that 'Kenny', playing killer 12 string electric while sitting on a stool was none other than Peter Buck. This is a great album, although the recording quality on the CD could have been better."
Return of a New Wave masterpiece!
Paul D. | Long Island, NY | 09/19/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"At last, this unfortunately long out of print record is available again. This album was quite possibly Robyn Hitchcock's best work in those heady 1980's new wave days. Hitchcock, on guitar, along with the incredibly underrated Andy Metcalf and Morris Windsor (as good a pop guitar and rhythm section unit as Lindsay Buckingham, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, if I dare say so) reached one of those points where everything was clicking wonderfully. After this, Hitchcock, long an underground and college radio favorite was picked up by a major label, where he produced some really good tracks on mediocre albums, and then further on (after that failed project) began producing Syd Barrett type albums seemingly for himself and die-hards only. But here in 1986 (if memory serves), Hitchcock's influences of John Lennon, Capt Beefheart, Barrett, Lou Reed, Dylan, The Byrds and Jim Morrison inspire him to weave a personal, and wonderful tapestry of sound and image. As the title and cover artwork implies, this is a somewhat lighter album in terms of texture, compared to say, his Soft Boys work, Fegmania! or Groovy Decoy, and it's chock full of wonderful melodies and harmonies. The sequencing of songs is also spot on. "Airscape" is simply phenominal! If the more serious mid-eighties new wave/pop music received the critical attention that the better album rock records got a decade and a half earlier, this one surely would have received it's due as a modern rock icon LP. (It seems that other tracks have been added for this release, as yet I've not heard them)."
4.5 stars- catchy but left of center
emvb | SEATTLE | 06/16/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"every cult artist has his peak where he makes the one album that leaves behind originality-streches out for the mainstream but still maintains his integrity. For me and i think for Hitchcock this is it! This is the one album i always recommend to friends- because its accessible enough to like but still challenges the listener with left of center sensibility. Element of light is pure and simple just a great pop record. Some hints of radiofriendly traditional structures tempered with enough (what the hell) adventures that make for an interesting and engaging spin. light is produced well played well-has enough original hitchcock in it( though we all know its the ghost of syd barrett) and is solid and varied in its approach. GReat post punk psychedelic new wave pop. One of the better 80s albums up there with sound affects by the jam- strawberries by the damned and the clashs sandinista. I still say this is where to start if your new to Robyn hitchcock! you wont be disappointed."