ROBERT WYATT — Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard (review)

ROBERT WYATT — Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard album cover Album · 1975 · Vocal Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
Third Wyatt's solo album was released next year after his excellent intimate "Rock Bottom". Not strange, it wasn't easy to follow such release by something of the same level. And "Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard" didn't.

This album in some sense is a compilation of different previously unreleased songs and ideas (some comes from Wyatt's before Soft Machine period,others are reworked songs of other authors,as Phil Manzanera,etc).Original vinyl album had Side Ruth (instead of A) and Side Richard (side B),what is missed on CD re-releases. Sound of all album is very relaxed, melancholic and in fact even this release is not on the level of previous one,it cemented Wyatt's reputation as unique song and atmosphere singer. Some well-known musicians participated on recording (Fred Frith and Brian Eno between others).

Comparing with Rock Bottom, this album is obviously more jazz and jazz-vocals oriented.Gary Windo's sax soloing in few places is really great, it's pity all music is a bit too minimalistic. "Side Richard" is more serious and contains some moments of free-jazz and Eno-added avant sounds.Full of intelligent nuances and fragile atmosphere, this work lacks only some brighter compositions and whole better structure to become another masterpiece. "Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard" is last Wyatt's solo studio album in ten years to come. For some upcoming time he will spent more time on his political interests, will become British Communist Party member and will release some radical leftist singles.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sustain Avant-Garde Jazz
AALY TRIO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunset Park Post Bop
TOBIAS MEINHART
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed