After re-emerging this year with the highly lauded The Unfairground, his first new work in well over a decade, England’s ultra-eccentric Kevin Ayers seems to be enjoying a renewed burst of popularity. In recent months there’s been a minor resurgence of everything Ayers, from reissues and compilations to thoughtful examinations of the role he played in the English prog-rock progression. Consequently, it comes as little surprise to see some digging through the vaults, with What More Can I Say… being among more interesting items unearthed of late. Essentially a set of homegrown demos that sat neglected for nearly 40 years, they point the way to some of Ayers’ prime pieces of the early ‘70s. Mostly it’s Ayers only, sketching out his songs on guitar and keyboards, with occasional accompaniment from some of his regular cronies – Mike Oldfield, David Bedford and Robert Wyatt included. All in all, it’s a fascinating insider’s view into the Ayers M.O., one that places the listener in the observer’s chair as the composer crafts his designs, verbally explaining the structure of some songs while improvising others. A couple of the tracks appear winners even early on – the affably strummed “Unfinished” (“I could just play with words all day,” Ayers offers), the triumphant keyboard processional “Crying,” and “Dreaming Doctor” which borrows the avant-garde textured effect of composers Phillip Glass and Terry Riley. Ayers says it all eloquently, and these personal tapes provide the proof. (Reel Recordings)
