''Old Rottenhat'' is the fourth studio album by

Robert Wyatt Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945) is an English retired musician. A founding member of the influential Canterbury scene bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, he was initially a kit drummer and singer before becoming para ...

. It was released in November 1985, and in 1993 it was reissued in its entirety as part of the CD '' Mid-Eighties''. The album was produced and performed solo by Wyatt, and is dedicated to Michael Bettaney, a UK MI5 intelligence officer who in 1984 was convicted for acting as an agent-in-place for the

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Critical reception

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'' wrote that, "while the tunes are low-key, they often have surprising rhythmic shifts or twists of chromatic harmony." David Fricke of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' found the lyrics pedantic in comparison to those of '' Nothing Can Stop Us'', but considered the album musically effective, praising the tracks "The Age of Self" and "Gharbzadegi".

Track listing

:''All songs written by Robert Wyatt''

Side one

#"Alliance" – 4:24 #"The United States of Amnesia" – 5:50 #"East Timor" – 2:52 #"Speechless" – 3:37 #"The Age of Self" – 2:50 #"Vandalusia" – 2:44

Side two

#"The British Road" – 6:23 #"Mass Medium" – 4:43 #"Gharbzadegi" – 7:54 #"P.L.A." – 2:31

Personnel

* Robert Wyatt: vocals, piano, keyboards,

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

, percussion

Recording details

*Recorded in 1984 at West 3 Studios,

Acton, London Acton () is a town in West London, England, within the London Borough of Ealing. It is west of Charing Cross. At the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census, its four Wards of the United Kingdom, wards, East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton ...

, by John McGowan. *Recorded in 1985 at Acre Lane Studios,

Brixton Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...

, by Bill Gilonis. "Thanks to Charles Gray and Vicky Aspinall for invaluable help and advice and thanks Duncan".

Album cover

The artwork for the album cover was created by Wyatt's wife Alfreda Benge.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1985 albums Robert Wyatt albums Rough Trade Records albums