Robert Rotifer

From December 2011

With three weeks to go I think I've found my album of the year: The Hosting Couple by Robert Rotifer.

Rotifer was born in Vienna and moved to England in the 1990s. His songs however are an unashamed throwback to the 1960s with beautiful guitar-led melodies and wistful lyrics. 'The Hosting Couple' is a reference to Mr & Mrs Middleston with whom Rotifer stayed as a 12 year old visiting England for the first time, wonderfully described in the song 'Canvey Island'.

The album's final track is a cover of The Fire's 'Father's Name is Dad' fits perfectly with Rotifer's own compositions and contains some of my favourite lines of all time:

My father's name was Dad
My mother's name was Mum
How can I take the blame
For anything I've done?

Released on Edwyn Collins' new label AED Records, it's a steal at £10. Edwyn also does a nice line in Christmas cards; nice to see him embracing life after his illness.