THE END OF AN EAR

Robert Wyatt's debut is very different from what we will later see in his albums to come. This album is not all vocal based and more so avant prog than the art rock of Rock Bottom. Here we get some jazzy soundscapes that are very strange and at times mind numbing. The music has a very loose structure and carries little melody. Wyatt uses very interesting techniques for providing a rhythm like his own voice overdubbed. The horns are somewhat scattered and difficult to listen to, kind of like a saxaphone sneezing. Pianos often keep the beat and the drums seem to be the lead instrument, You can tell he was having fun when he recorded this, which probably the greatest thing about the album. It's a very difficult listen nonetheless but very rewarding after a few listens. Just laying back to this album and letting the music take over your mind can be very fun. A good album, but not really essential. Check it out if your interested in RIO or Zappa's soundscape work like Lumpy Gravy.