Robert Wyatt - "Different Every Time Volume 2: Benign Dictatorships" 2 x Vinyl, Compilation, 2014 (Domino)

Curated by Robert Wyatt, this is his second compilation of what he feels is his best work on the disc. The first volume was recordings under his own name, but here it is totally devoted to his collaborations with other artists.  Basically, he served on their recordings as a vocalist or even just a backup singer.  The thing is when Wyatt opens his mouth and he sings, he pretty much owns that tune.  It's not that he has the greatest voice on this planet, but as a vocalist, he's a unique presence, and in a manner, he reminds me of Chet Baker. Not that their voices are similar, but both are musicians who also sing.   

Of the seventeen songs here, I only know three songs.  They are Phil Manzanera's "Frontera," Nick Mason's "Siam," and one song under his name, but written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer,  "Shipbuilding."  Beyond that, all the artists are basically unknown (except for Bjork, Hot Chip, and Epic Soundtracks - artists that I have heard of, but really don't know their music.)   Wyatt I think is moving out of his comfort zone, and that makes him an artist of importance.  He is an excellent collaborator.  I can't say I love every track, but all of them are at the very least interesting.  Special notice to his recording of John Cage's "Experiences No. 2" which was an early Obscure Records release.  

Nick Mason - "Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1981 (Columbia)

Actuality, there are only two cool people in Pink Floyd.  Syd Barrett of course, and the other guy, who was their drummer, Nick Mason.  He's cool because he produced classic Robert Wyatt albums as well as The Damned's second album.   He's the kink in the well-oiled Pink Floyd machine.   Nothing against Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour.  Both good guys, but Mason I felt, investigated areas outside of the Pink Floyd world.  When you hear a Waters or Gilmour solo album, you pretty know what you're getting. On the other hand, what in the hell is a Nick Mason solo album? 

"Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports" is not really a solo album by Mason.  He co-produced, co-engineered, played the drums and I have to imagine he picked up the recording cost bill, but in its essence, it's an album by Jazz composer and pianist Carla Bley.  I'm not that familiar with Bley's music, except that her band is very much a big or enlarged jazz band. The one album I do know of is her work with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra album which is excellent.  Haden's work has a strong left political context, but here, Bley's lyrics tend to be more on the side of absurdity, which serves the over-all humor of Nick Mason's album.  

The key reason why I bought this album is all due to Robert Wyatt.  He is the lead singer on this disc, and anything that has his magnificent voice is worth having.  Saying that, this is not really a Wyatt album, even though he has done many covers in his solo career, this still belongs to Bley.   If pushed to the corner and my back against the wall I would describe the music as big band jazz arrangements but with pop music overtures.   This is work that is very tightly arranged, and Wyatt, Mason and other great musicians that are in Bley's world, fits in like a great puzzle.   Basically, Mason lent his name and reputation to this project for Carla Bley.  Which again, makes him the coolest member of Pink Floyd. 

One also must give credit to Michael Mantler, who has done music with Bley for years, and her husband, the bassist Steve Swallow.  Dynamic horn section consisting of Gary Windo, Gary Valente, Howard Johnson and others.  Sharp guitar work by the fantastic Chris Spedding.   It's literally impossible for this group of musicians to make bad music together.