Album of the Day

As a founding member of Soft Machine, Kevin Ayers helped make Canterbury, England, a wellspring of progressive rock, and his solo work continued to push musical boundaries. The 1971 Harvest collection WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING is often cited as the singer-songwriter's best, and the invention and charm of these eight tracks makes that tough to argue. Opener “There Is Loving/Among Us” show the wonders Ayers could work with a budget for orchestration, “Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes” adds a touch of early rock, avant-garde “Song From The Bottom Of A Well” puts future hitmaker Mike Oldfield's bass to good use, while the title track reunites our hero with another former Softie, Robert Wyatt, for some sublime harmonizing. Albums this experimental are rarely so accessible, and the delightfully eccentric WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING will make you want to sing whatever Ayers brings.