Review by Steve McGowan from Zub RecordsThis was an interesting, historical show, with Robyn concentrating on EYE’s outtakes and demos. Depending on which CD you have, you would need both the 1995 Rhino Records version and the 2007 Yep Roc Records versions to be aware of these tracks. Starting off in the kitchen (Studio B) with his small mahogany acoustic, Robyn said the first song was “Not from EYE but part of that harvest of glorious pain.” He started off, solo, with ‘The Devil’s Coachman’ from Queen Elvis, singing at the end:
Yesterday I saw the Devil in my food
I wasn't hungry but I played with it
Blood red horns gouged through my scrambled (egg)
Yesterday I saw the Devil in my heart
I was expecting him, the doctor came
I have to call the doctor every time we kiss
Next up was ‘Transparent Lover,’ from the Yep Roc outtakes, a beautiful, folkie song. Robyn’s voice: very strong and his guitar playing: stellar. Before the next song, ‘Sweet Ghost Of Light,’ Reg mentioned he was trying to do things “in a more earthbound way” when he wrote it. This EYE bonus track had a distinct Velvet Underground/Lou Reed feel, like ‘Candy Says’ crossed with an early Bowie song.
Emma Swift made an appearance, noting the usual John and Yoko calendar in the background had been replaced with a picture of Linda Ronstadt (our Ronstadt review at tinyurl.com/zublinda). Reg and Em did a poppy, upbeat version of ‘So You Think You’re In Love’ from Perspex Island. Robyn commented on how lovely Emma looked and she replied “ I went to the Dolly Parton School of Beauty.” The duo then did Queen Elvis’ ‘One Long Pair Of Eyes,’ beautifully picked on the guitar with that hint of Olde English folk history, it was truly stunning.
Emma left to read the comments on the computer and Reg introduced the next song as “the last song I wrote in the 1980’s and the first of the 1990’s.” He played ‘She Doesn’t Exist’ from Perspex Island, a sad lament for lost love that had top-notch playing and singing. Emma returned and they did ‘Airscape’ from Element Of Light, one of his best tunes. After this one there was some news about Ringo the cat, who apparently has now been sleeping on the sofa. The duo continued with ‘Raining Twilight Coast,’ a proper (non bonus) track from EYE, in which I detected a little bit of Southern California singer-songwriter influence. Maybe it was just the watchful eye of Linda Ronstadt on the wall holding sway.
The show ended up with ‘Century,’ a more obscure EYE bonus track, only on the Yep Roc CD. Emma returned with Ringo’s brother Tubby, and the duo did ‘The Beauty Of Earl’s Court,’ another Yep Roc EYE bonus track that is also a bit obscure. The duo talked through a bit of this one, Reg comparing the lyrics to T.S. Eliot, and emphasizing a Bowie-esque part in the middle.
Robyn and Emma continue to take us on a great journey every week. Their singing and playing gets stronger, and the timeline of Robyn’s work is coming much more into focus. Another great show!