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Robert Wyatt: Old Rottenhat (Rough Trade)

Mat Snow, New Musical Express, 30 November 1985

CAN POLITICS and music mix? Are songs about matters commonly deemed to belong in the political sphere not really songs at all, but rather singing pamphlets on a par with singing telegrams? Should political songs necessarily be anthemic and sloganising: is their purpose to stress goals, identify the enemy, raise the spirits and unite common causes in a single voice?

Total word count of piece: 572

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