The Authorised Biography of Robert Wyatt (Buchrezension – Teaser)

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Marcus O’Dair – Different Every Time – The Authorised Biography Of Robert Wyatt (Buchrezension – Teaser) Das sagt und schreibt man oft so leichthin: Charismatisch. Ausnahmekünstler. Gänsehautstimme. Genial. Für Letzteres sollte man wirklich immer ins Phrasenhausschwein blechen müssen. Alles andere aber trifft nach des Rezensenten bescheid’ner Überzeugung auf Robert Wyatt wirklich und in höchstem Umfange zu. Dementsprechend groß war die Neugier auf eine Monographie- Würdigung des Soft Machine– und Matching Mole- Mitbegründers und einflussreichen Galionsfigur der britischen Canterbury-Szene. Wyatt war neben tausend anderen Dingen auch notorischer Trunkenbold (später Abstinenzler) und Fremdgänger (später sehr ernsthafter Ehemann), ein berühmter Rollstuhlfahrer, ein Spitzen-Schlagzeuger und -Sänger und nicht zuletzt ein äußerst unbequemer Linker und glühender Apartheid -Gegner. Der Autor der Biografie, Marcus O’Dair ist selbst Musiker (Grasscut), Musikjournalist und Dozent an der Middlesex University London und als solcher ideal qualifiziert für diese Herausforderung. Das bei Serpent’s Tail erschienene Ergebnis ist schlicht die beste Biographie, die unsereinem bislang auf den Nachttisch oder daneben geraten ist – die Sorte, nach deren Lektüre man tatsächlich das Gefühl hat, den Beschriebenen selbst getroffen und ihn persönlich kennengelernt zu haben – und tatsächlich sogar das bislang gelungenste Musikfachbuch überhaupt, zumindest in den Regalen des diensthabenden Schreiberlings. Die zur Rezension erhaltene Ausgabe wird zum kostbaren Kleinod durch ein von Robert und Alfie (Alfreda Benge, Roberts bessere Hälfte, die zahlreiche Texte für seine Musik und legendäres Artwork für seine Alben beigesteuert hat) signiertes Ex Libris mit Dondestan-Motiv, das dem Buch vorangestellt ist. So ergibt sich hier tatsächlich mal eine Einheit aus formaler und inhaltlicher Ästhetik. Die den Album-Covern zugrunde liegenden Werke Alfies können übrigens als limitierte, nummerierte und signierte Drucke in der Hypergallery.com erworben werden – unter folgendem Deep Link. Es sind derzeit folgende Motive erhältlich: „Dondestan“, „Shleep“, „Comicopera“, „Rock Bottom“ sowie „Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard“. Zur vollständigen Buch-Besprechung inkl. Bestellmöglichkeiten auf Booknerds.de Wertung: 15/15 Punkten Surftipps: RW @ Facebook Discographie disco-robertwyatt.com „The (almost) Authorised Robert Wyatt website“ (fansite by Eitan Shavit Fansite WyattandStuff „The Canterbury Music Website“ Radio-Portrait von Falling Tree RW @ Spotify RW @ Bandcamp Wyattpedia.

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