There are artists who one can follow, and it opens up to other artists and worlds. It's similar to eating an artichoke, and as you strip each leaf, you can put different flavorings on it, which alters the taste significantly. Then you reach the artichoke heart, and that itself is a different taste, but if you marinated it with a sauce, another element for the taste buds. Robert Wyatt is like that as well. "Different Every Time" is a two-volume set of double vinyl albums, where one is focusing on Wyatt as a contributor or collaborator, and the other is a selected greatest hits package, both curated by Wyatt. Now, we focus on "Ex-Machina" which is his 'hits' package.
If you are a long time fan of Wyatt, there is never a perfect compilation. Wyatt is not all over the map, but his landscape where he makes his music is physically small, but branches out in Left politics, jazz and pop standards, and his original compositions. Some written by himself and other times with his wife and graphic artist, Alfreda Benge. Wyatt made choices here that are superb, but there will always be that obvious song left out. For me, it's his version of Neil Diamond's (The Monkees) "I'm a Believer." On the other hand, we do have his version of "Yesterday Man," which is an exceptional composition by Chris Andrews, who wrote hit material for Sandie Shaw. I do recommend a listener to track down Andrews version, which is very much a ska-pop arrangement. Wyatt's version is soulful and a feeling of regret. A beautiful melody and in the voice of Wyatt it becomes an emotional reflection on a lost romance. Only Wyatt can sing a song with political overtures and make it sound like a lost soul reflecting on a grand disappointment. His voice is unique, and there is nothing out there like a Wyatt vocal.
The album covers a great deal of Wyatt's solo work but also touches on his first two well-known bands, Soft Machine and Matching Mole. Side one is taken up with Soft Machine's "Moon in June" which is 20 minutes long, and not a boring second is allowed. The Wyatt humor takes place. Still, there is an English attitude of expressing oneself that's very restrained and in order. Wyatt also made his incredible masterpiece album "Rock Bottom," but there is only one song to represent that record, and it's a live recording of the song "A Last Straw." There is a focus at least material wise, on recordings made in the 80s, 90s and up to a few years ago. More of exposure to Wyatt's brain working which is not nostalgic, but expressing his desires for current work. If one has all the Wyatt recordings, including the 45 rpm single "Yesterday Man" (which to me if you don't have the song, it's worth buying the double-album set), then you don't need it. Still, if you are new in the Wyatt world, this is an excellent introduction and entrance way to a magnificent artist.
