Kevin
Ayers is one of rock's oddest and most likeable enigmas. There are few artists
who qualify more than this recluse for music’s highest accolades. He
is the bridge between the psychedelia that he helped create and the new sounds
and sensibilities of Roxy Music, Eno and David Bowie on whom he was a primary
influence. He is also one of rock's more important (and more humane) innovators,
launching Soft Machine in 1966 with Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge.
Later he performed as a solo artist, working with noted European musicians
like Syd Barrett, Mike Oldfield, Brian Eno, Lol Coxhill, Steve Hillage, Ollie
Hassell, and John Cale. A recent Record Collector publication celebrating
the 100 greatest psychedelic records describes Kevin and Syd Barrett as two
of the genre’s most important figures. Lured from his retreat in the
South of France, Kevin is surrounded by a battalion of admirers both old and
young on The Unfairground, his first album in over fifteen years.
The empathy these performers bring to this album has summoned a new voice
and honesty in Kevin and the performances stand now amongst the strongest
he has ever committed to plastic. Kevin Ayers is one of the most significant
and influential musicians of his generation. He has a unique sensibility,
making ordinary lyrical subjects seem extraordinary with his rich low vocals,
inventive wordplay, and bemused, relaxed attitude that belies the life of
a poet and a bacchanalian lothario. Welcome to The Unfairground.
"The
question 'why isn't Kevin Ayers an almighty star?' is up there with 'how did
the universe begin?" Record Collector - Nick Dalton"
"Now we've rediscovered Drake, Martyn and Harper, it's time to give Kevin
Ayers your attention"
Uncut - Marcello Carlin
"Kevin Ayers' talent is so acute you could perform major eye surgery
with it."
John Peel
The
Unfairground is out now (Sept 10
in the UK and Eire on Lo-Max,
Sept 7 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux on Tuition
(rest of Europe on Tuition October), September 17 in Australia on Shock
and in Japan on JVC
Victor in October. In the USA on Gigantic March
18 2008.
info
about the album, press clippings, hear some audio clips and see the art work
here . For contact info
click here
Two songs from 'The Unfairground' are posted
on Kevin's myspace site. here
