Tromsø, Kaptein

Initially released on a Norwegian label for the Norwegian market (and named after a city at the country’s northern end), *Tromso, Kaptein* is a sign that Robyn Hitchcock isn’t slowing down or losing anything from his delivery; here he assembles eight new tracks and two remakes into another solid, enjoyable release. “Raining Twilight Coast,” originally from the all-acoustic *Eye* collection, adds a stirring cello and gorgeous reverb that envelop Hitchcock’s voice to perfection. “Goodnight Olso” (“Godnatt Oslo”) also highlights Jenny Adejeyan’s gently sawing cello for a noir-scape that’s purely sinister. Among the new offerings, “Light Blue Afternoon” has a cascading flow reminiscent of the stellar *Element of Light*. With its breezy touch, “Old Man Weather” recalls The Zombies’ “Time of the Season.” While much has been made of Hitchcock’s songwriting, it bears mentioning just how great a singer he is. He dominates these songs, drawing listeners into his web with an engrossing sense of unease on “Erasing Your Life” and “The Abyss.”

Tromsø, Kaptein is the eighteenth studio album by Robyn Hitchcock, originally released by Norwegian label Hype City Records in 2011 and was only made available in Norway. This edition is on Tiny Ghost Records