Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt

Robert Wyatt's 1974 album Rock Bottom, one of the masterpieces of progressive rock, more specifically the Canterbury Scene, is described by the author as "his first work in which he recognized himself, considering everything he had produced before immature."

He practically founded the Canterbury Scene, when he began with the  Wilde Flowers alongside legendary musicians like Allen, Ayers, the two Hopper brothers, and the fifteen-year-old guitarist and singer Richard Sinclair, in Centerbury, around 1964.

And with Ayers, after the Wilde Flowers, he founded one of the most influential groups in progressive rock, Soft Machine. His career is studded with fabulous encounters and collaborations, most of them following an incredible accident to which he was able to react with great strength and determination.

It is, in fact, the first album after the accident in June 1973 that left him paraplegic and forced him to spend several months in the hospital. Unable to play a regular drum kit, he concentrated on singing and played keyboards, percussion, slide guitar, and a small drum kit without a hi-hat or bass drum.

On June 1, 1973, during Gilli Smyth and Lady June's birthday party, Wyatt fell from the third floor and was paralyzed from the waist down: "The doctor was astonished. He said to me, 'You must have been really drunk to be so relaxed when you fell from the third floor.' If I had been just a little more sober, I probably wouldn't be here today: I would have tensed my whole body with fear and then I would have crashed." (Robert Wyatt)

An album produced by Nick Mason and featuring exceptional guests such as Mike Oldfield, Richard Sinclair (Wilde Flowers, Caravan, Hatfield and the North, Camel), Hugh Hopper (Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine), and many other great musicians. In his darkest hour, his friends didn't abandon him, and Wyatt succeeded in rebirth with a historic album.

This album is a masterpiece, it seems recorded yesterday, introducing devices that are still found in contemporary music today: voiceovers, noises, electronic sounds.

Each track is a gem, a fabulous voice, a thrilling sound. A timeless classic, a journey into Wyatt's psyche, calm and melancholic, achieved with simple instrumentation.

The photo of Robert smiling on the inside cover is beautiful.

Rock Bottom is definitely one of the best albums in my collection and should be in yours too. It's a MUST-HAVE.

Tracks

1. Sea Song (6:31)
2. A Last Straw (5:46)
3. Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road (7:38)
4. Alifib (6:55)
5. Alife (6:31)
6. Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road (6:08)
Running Time: 39:29

Line-Up

- Robert Wyatt - vocals, guitar (2), keyboards, percussion
Featuring:
- Ivor Cutler - vocals (3, 6), baritone concertina (6)
- Alfreda Benge - vocals (5)
- Mike Oldfield - guitar (6)
- Mongezi Feza - trumpet (3)
- Gary Windo - alto and bass clarinets (5)
- Fred Frith - viola (6)
- Richard Sinclair - bass (1, 3, 6)
- Hugh Hopper - bass (2, 4, 5)
- Laurie Allan - drums (2, 6) Delivery, Gong
- Nick Mason - produttore