Old Rottenhat is an album by Robert Wyatt, an English musician and a founding member of the band Soft Machine. This album was released in December 1985 under the label of Rough Trade. The name of the album 'Old Rottenhat' comes from the hat Wyatt frequently wore during his performances.
The album uniquely combines elements of British art rock and refined pop with many of the features of Wyatt's earlier works. It deviates from conventional music structure as instead of presenting a series of songs, the album embeds political messages and personal reflections within a musical narrative.
Primarily, the album reflects Wyatt's political views, which contain strong criticism of the contemporary British government and the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, along with various events that shaped the global political landscape. The song "The Age of Self" makes a direct attack on the notion of the individual that was being propagated by Thatcher's government. "Gharbzadegi," which translates to 'Westernitis,' refers to a concept in Iranian political discourse that criticises Western cultural influence on the East.
The composition of the album is dynamic, with Wyatt's singular vocals accompanied by percussions, keyboards, and his distinctive evolving trumpet/saxophone sound. The musical styles of the album mirror its lyrical content, moving between moments of meditative calm and the energetic rhythms of protest anthems. Therefore, the songs are presented in a delicate and harmonious balance, both aesthetically and contextually.
Despite the album's dense political content, it does not take away from the listener’s enjoyment of the songs. Instead, it invites listeners to engage more deeply with the music, making Old Rottenhat a unique album in Wyatt's discography.
