CD CHOICE: Tony Clayton-Lealistens to three re-issues from Robert Wyatt's back catalogue.  

Rock Bottom **** / Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard ****/ Nothing Can Stop Us ****

Domino

In this crazy, mixed-up jumble sale we call rock music, there are few mavericks as idiosyncratic as Robert Wyatt. He remains the quintessential British experimentalist - art rock music's answer to the aural surrealist Vivian Stanshall, and mainstream rock's answer to a question no one has yet thought of asking.

Now Wyatt's landmark back catalogue is being reissued. Early albums from the once innovative Virgin label (1974's Rock Bottom, 1975's Ruth Is Stranger than Richard) and the always interesting Rough Trade imprint (1982's Nothing Can Stop Us) are out this week, while in late November Old Rottenhat(1983), Dondestan(1991), Shleep(1997) and Cuckooland(2003) are released.

Such a release schedule might seem unnecessary when Wyatt's adherence to non-commercialism is taken into consideration. But if we are to understand anything about the nature of freedom of artistic expression, then we would do well to applaud the decision at Domino HQ to undertake such a project. The originality of music on the first batch of reissues is perhaps best reflected on Rock Bottomand Ruth Is Stranger than Richard (Nothing Can Stop Usis a compilation of covers, with the inclusion of his definitive reading of Elvis Costello's Shipbuilding).

Rock Bottomwas largely written after Wyatt had fallen from a fourth-storey window, which left him paraplegic. The album alludes little to the accident, but rather allows the listener to groove amiably on a sonic bed of impressionistic, shimmering rhythms the like of which have rarely been heard since.

Similarly, Ruth Is Stranger than Richardis an adept piece of heartfelt art rock, a strong precursor of lo-fi and, like Rock Bottom,is lifted into the clouds by Wyatt's doleful chorister voice. In a nutshell? Wyatt is unique, and these are crucial records - real music with an authentic, creative bent.

Download tracks: Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road, Team Spirit