Robyn Hitchcock ‘Love from London’

Words by Amy Giubilo

Minor piano chords start off the new album by Robyn Hitchcock, Love from London; but as the album progresses, so does the surrealism. Resembling sounds of R.E.M., Bob Dylan and at times, The Beatles (in fact – Ringo Starr also has his own ‘Harry’s Song’), you will certainly feel as if you are looking through a kaleidoscope.

Hitchcock’s dream-like lyrics float through Love from London, especially with the paralyzing opener, ‘Harry’s Song’. The song starts out with a slow minor piano progression and brings his signature surrealist lyrics upfront. “Nothing answers like the ocean /To the albatross that punctuates the sky.” As the song builds, a female voice carries the haunting harmony that ends with the words “But I don’t know anything about you/No, I don’t know anything about you…. Anymore.”

Love from London closes with ‘End of Time’, a lighter side to the album featuring upbeat percussion. This song reminds us about giving in, about the negatives and positives in life with reflections like “Sunrise doesn’t give a damn /About who I am /Or what I’m doing anywhere.” The song spirals to the end of the LP with the repeating chorus “Take me, take me /I’m ready for the end of time”.

The imagery in Robyn Hitchcock’s Love from London is sincere and poetic at times. If you are in the mood for something that will make you think as you listen, this album will certainly do so.