Black Snake Dîamond Röle (studio album)
by Robyn Hitchcock

One can well imagine that if Syd Barrett had continued to write and record music, some of it might have sounded like Robyn Hitchcock. At any rate it is obvious that Hitchcock is very inspired by Barrett, and his vocal phrasings are often similar to those of Barrett.

This album was Hitchcock's first solo release after the dissolution of the band The Soft Boys and Hitchcock shines with having written all material on the album; including the eight bonus tracks. Moreover, the songwriting is at a high level, and only very few numbers seem unimportant. If you are not already familiar with Hitchcock's music, it may take some time to get an overview of the eighteen numbers, which, besides being in debt to Syd Barret, also have borrowed a portion from the melodic early punk, Alex Chilton and sixties bands like the Who and the Velvet Underground.

The ten original tracks are generally fine, but a few songs should be highlighted - f.x. the catchy opening "The Man Who Invented Himself". Also the Pink Floyd inspired "Brenda's Iron Sledge", the melodic Who inspired "Out of the Picture" and not least the final number, and the only ballad "Love " stand out.

The bonus-tracks are for the most part fully in line with the original ten tracks, and also here several could be highlighted. I will bring forward two of the slower songs, the evocative "A Skull, a Suitcase and a Long Bottle of Wine" and "It was the Night", which might well go for an Alex Chilton recording.

An exciting album which belong among the most recognized in his extensive production; partly as a soloist or as part of the bands the Soft Boys and The Egyptians.