Pitchfork

Psych rock's favorite Santa Claus, Robert Wyatt, returns this fall with his latest longplayer, the self-produced Comicopera. It's the former Soft Machinist's first disc for Domino Records, as previously reported, and it comes down chimneys a little prematurely this year, on September 24.

Wyatt enlisted a few jolly elves for this one, including longtime pals and past Wyatt album contributors Brian Eno, Paul Weller (The Jam, the Style Council), and Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music, Quiet Sun). Also onboard were several noted jazz musicians, Robert's wife Alfie Benge, and something the liner notes call the "enotron," which apparently refers to the voice of Brian Eno as manipulated by Robert Wyatt. I so totally want an enotron for Christmas this year.

Like any good opera, Comicopera is divided into three "acts," laid across one compact disc/slab of vinyl/iTunes playlist. On the LP's third act, Wyatt delves into the poetry and music of Federico García Lorca, Italian rockers CCCP, and Cuban composer Carlos Puebla. Comicopera's opening track, meanwhile, is a cover of a tune by Norwegian singer-songwriter Anja Garbarek.

Comicopera follows up Wyatt's 2003 LP Cuckooland, and next time you get the Trivial Pursuit card that asks, "Who wrote the press release for Robert Wyatt's Comicopera?" you'll get your damn pie piece, because it's Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip. According to Taylor, "There is so much to find, and to return to, in the generous company of this record."

Comicopera:

Act One: Lost in Noise:
01 Stay Tunes
02 Just As You Are
03 You You
04 A.W.O.L.
05 Anachronist

Act Two: The Here and There:
06 A Beautiful Place
07 Be Serious
08 On the Town Square
09 Mob Rule
10 A Beautiful War
11 Out of the Blue

Act Three: Away With the Fairies:
12 Del Mondo
13 Cancion de Julieta
14 Pastafari
15 Fragment
16 Hasta Siempre