Whatevershebringswesing

Whatevershebringswesing is the third solo album by Kevin Ayers. In 1971, Kevin Ayers started recording what would become his magnum opus, Whatevershebringswesing accompanied by members of Gong and his previous backing band The Whole World. Feted by NME, Record Mirror and Rolling Stone, the album realised all the musical aspirations Ayers had harboured since the inception of Soft Machine. Its influence on subsequent albums like Brian Eno’s Here Come the Warm Jets is self evident on melodic structures alone.

As with most Ayers albums, a collision of disparate styles confronts the listener but in this instance they work to extremely powerful effect. The title track with Mike Oldfield's exceptional guitar accompaniment and Robert Wyatt’s wracked harmonies, would become a template for Ayers 70s output.

The album opens with David Bedford’s “There Is Loving Among Us” accompanied by his dramatic string arrangement. This segues into the vignettes “Margaret” and “Oh My” where Ayers juxtaposes terse lyrics against measured backing to considerable impact. “Song From A Bottom of a Well” marries a Stockhausen-esque arrangement to Ayers’ cryptic lyric “This is a song from the bottom of a well / There are things down here / I've got to try and tell”. “Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes”, a flirtation with Ayers love of early rock and roll, would become a staple of his live set for years to come and a song he would re-record twice that decade.

Many critics and fans have sited Whatevershebringswesing as their favourite Ayers album and it remains to this day a best seller in his catalogue. A reissue in 2003 added three additional songs; “Stars” (B-side to "Stranger..."), “Don’t Sing No more Sad Songs” and "Fake Mexican Tourist Blues" (1976 B-side to "Stranger...")!.

[edit] Track listing

"There is Loving (Ayers)/Amongst Us (Bedford)/There is Loving (Ayers)" (3:04)
"Margaret" (3:20) (Ayers)
"Oh My" (2:59) (Ayers)
"Song from the Bottom of a Well" (4:37) (Ayers)
"Whatevershebringswesing" (8:13) (Ayers)
"Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes" (3:24) (Ayers)
"Champagne Cowboy Blues" (3:56) (Ayers)
"Lullabye" (2:14) (Ayers)

[edit] Personnel

Kevin Ayers / vocals, guitar, bass
David Bedford / keyboards, orchestral arrangements
Mike Oldfield / bass, guitar
Dave Dufort / drums
William Murray / drums
Tony Carr / drums
Robert Wyatt / Harmony vocals (5)
Didier Malherbe / saxophone, flute
Gerry Fields / violin
Johnny Van Derek / violin

[edit] References

Live Review by Richard Williams (Melody Maker 18 Apr 1970)
Album Review (NME Jan 1972)
Album Review by Alain Dister (Rock & Folk Jun 1972)
Album Review (Sounds Jan 25, 1972)
Album Review (Record Mirror Jan 1972)
Album Review (Rolling Stone Jun 1972)
Everything You Do Is True, As Long As You Believe It - Whatevershebringswesing sleevenotes by Martin Wakeling (Harvest Sept 2006)