The Cavalry Never Showed Up by Rotifer - Gare du Nord Records [GNDCD001]

The Cavalry Never Showed Up

Rotifer

A 12 track power pop album (45m ) — released November 4th 2013 on Gare du Nord Records

#pop #power-pop

From the nouveau poor of London living in the detritus of fake nineties affluence via an "old hippie in my kitchen" who sees the naivety of 1913 mirrored in the seen-it-all sarcasm of 2013 to the middle-aged man clinging to his musical dream, the first release on the new Gare du Nord imprint is a record filled with sympathetic characters, social observation, gallows humour, and political anger (check out the opener "I Just Couldn't Eat As Much (As I'd Like To Throw Up)", the train-traveller's anthem "The New Fares", or the catchy dark tale of "Black Bag"). Apart from all that, "The Cavalry Never Showed Up" is also the sound of Canterbury-based songwriter Robert Rotifer finding his perfect band (Mike Stone from Television Personalities on bass and former Death in Vegas guitarist Ian Button on drums).

This is Rotifer's second UK release after five previous albums in his native Austria and 2011's UK debut "The Hosting Couple" (which was one of the first records on Edwyn Collins' AED label). It is also the first album to come out on the new Gare du Nord Records imprint. Various songs from the album have already received airplay on Gideon Coe's BBC6Music show and the album has been very favourably reviewed in the November issue of Uncut, as well as blogs like Pennyblack and Neon Filler.

Rotifer's songs are crammed with witty, sardonic lyrics. - Alastair McKay (Uncut)

The reason why these songs are so valuable is that they open a little door on something else (...) It's those literate bands that turn you on to stuff. It just makes the world seem more interesting. - Dorian Lynskey (Guardian Music)

There are still nods to vintage 1960s music and lost bands from that era such as Unrelated Segments and The Misunderstood, particularly on the Underfunded of London. But on opening track - Joe Lepper (Neon Filler)

It’s not just about writing songs that nobody else would have thought of. The execution matters too. Rotifer can really play and they do so gloriously. - Willow Colios Louderthanwar

Previous Rotifer albums have had their fair share of very good songs, but this is unambiguously great (...) The temptation, faced with a band who have so dramatically upped their game, is to wonder where they can possibly go from here. - Benjamin Howarth (PennyBlackMusic)

It isn't just that they are thoughtful, intelligent, soulful songs, it's also that although it appears simple to the ear, Robert's music is highly creative and complicated. (...) I now consider Robert to be one of the primary influences on my own creativity. - Darren Hayman (Hefner)

...unique in its conscientious clarity,without being simple: i.e. repays really careful listening. a rare intelligence, I think, with the advantage of starting from such an unusual angle. - Robert Wyatt

Albums of the Year: If you found the most recent Wave Pictures album a little same, might I suggest Robert Rotifer, who works in a similar you-are-there tales of English life (though he’s Australian-born) but is maybe — maybe — a little more varied musically. - SOUND BITES NYC

Robert Rotifer along with fellow band mates Ian Button (Thrashing Doves / Death In Vegas) and Mike Stone (Television Personalities), have come up with a great LP that has got wit, sarcasm, humour and a dark old London town underbelly. It stands out from the herd, but it also brings to mind 1960’s David Bowie, Scott Walker, Jarvis Cocker and Edwyn Collins. This LP is well worth your attention. - DMC Zzub Chart

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