There are times, not often it has to be said, that I hear an album that fills me both with joy (because I love it) and dread (as I must write about it and know that I am going to fail miserably): that is what we have here. So, let’s get a few simple facts out of the way. This is the solo album from Robert Ramsay, who used to be part of Tinyfish along with Simon Godfrey, who along with Matt Stevens from TFATD guests on some of the songs. But, there aren’t many actual songs, as this is a spoken word album that has taken most of its influence from Rowan Atkinson, and then joined that liberally with Douglas Adams. Now you may be starting to understand why I am dreading writing the review, as this isn’t the type of album I would expect from a label that has made its name releasing some of the best prog rock around.
No, what we have here is humour, and humour that takes me back to my youth and watching comedy shows that never seemed to make it onto BBC1, but were relegated to BBC2, such as ‘Not The Nine O’Clock News’. The album is mostly a series of different monologues, that may or may not have music behind them, all of which I love. Robert has a fine line in comedy that is incredibly cynical and satirical, and it is hard to pick a favourite although I smile every time I hear the Pink Floyd steal in ‘Tramps In Their Purest Form’. He is a wonderfully devilish Wizard Ramsay trying to assist his young nephew, while the opening “Living Will” is an incredible example of how powerful a simple direct statement can be. David Allen was a master of it, as was Rowan Atkinson, and Robert belongs in the same company. Definitely worth seeking out.
