Robyn Hitchcock - Luminous Groove (2008)

The second in a series of Robyn Hitchcock retrospective box sets from Yep Roc, the five-disc ''Luminous Groove'' box set shines a light on Robyn's rock & roll renaissance with the Egyptians. In 1985 Robyn's newest group, with ex-Soft Boys Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor plus keyboardist Roger Jackson, marked the next stage in the career of one of popular music's most unique creators. ''Fegmania!'' is a return to band format, showcasing the new outfit through sonic tapestries around Hitchcock's signature skittered melodies and private lyrics. On ''Element of Light,'' The Egyptians glide between regal pop and driving psychedelia, resulting in one of the most deliberate and nuanced rock records of the decade. ''Gotta Let This Hen Out!'' captures a blazing live set by the Egyptians from London's Marquee club in early 1985. The band blasts through new and old Hitchcock classics, effortlessly blending the show into what amounts to a live best-of collection and reminding fans that Robyn's legend is built as much on loud guitars as it is on eerie metaphors and jagged melodies. All three albums contain new bonus tracks exclusive to ''Luminous Groove.'' In addition to these three seminal albums, the set also includes two exclusive bonus discs entitled ''Bad Case of History'' which features previously unreleased studio recordings, including the final 1994 sessions, and a CD of unheard live material. Just as with Yep Roc's first box set collection ''I Wanna Go Backwards,'' the curation of ''Fegmania!,'' ''Element of Light,'' and ''Gotta Let This Hen Out!'' into one box set encapsulates a critical portion of the creative life of Britain's Mad Hatter of pop and further illuminates Hitchcock's gloriously mysterious ''Luminous Groove.'' ''Luminous Groove'' is also available as an eight-LP vinyl set.