Robert Wyatt: Last News

Jamie Lang Global animation has seen a significant uptick in the production and dissemination of titles produced for mature audiences. Catalonia is no exception, and the Spanish community’s adult animation industry is thriving as artists look to tell more mature stories with their work. Several high-profile examples stand out at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival.

Jamie Lang Catalan animation is in a fantastic place and at this year’s Annecy Festival, the region will demonstrate its vitality to the whole world with an impressive lineup of films and projects selected in major sections. Featuring in this year’s main competition lineup, Maria Trenor’s rock and roll musical “Rock Bottom” is a psychedelic trip inspired by the life and music of U.K. artist Robert Wyatt.

Jamie Lang Paris-based Loco Films has secured global sales rights to “Rock Bottom,” an animated feature exploring the life and music of British artist Robert Wyatt that will world premiere in the main competition at next week’s Annecy Festival. “Rock Bottom” is a trippy portrayal of the romance between Bob, a famous rock musician, and Alif, a talented visual artist, delivered through lush and vibrant rotoscoped 2D animation.

Jamie Lang Celebrated Spanish filmmaker María Trénor’s debut feature “Rock Bottom” will premiere in the main competition at this year’s Annecy Festival, and she has given Variety exclusive access to the film’s first trailer. Produced by leading Catalan producer Alba Sotorra, the film is inspired by the life and music of U.K. artist Robert Wyatt.

Ben Croll Sex, drugs and rock’n’roll were but three of the shared subjects animating the Annecy Animation Showcase, presented as part of the Marché du Film at last month’s Cannes Film Festival. Marking its fifth edition, this year’s work-in-progress spotlight imparted a decidedly adult flavor, with a preponderance of showcased titles tackling outré material for mature crowds. “On the market side, adult-skewing projects are no longer a trend,” says Annecy chief Mickaël Marin. “The form is now well-established. Of course, global platforms have opened new doors and widened the field of possibilities, so we encourage financiers and broadcasters if not to take risks, then to at least explore new avenues beyond traditional family animation.”

This past weekend the coronation of King Charles III took place in London with a surreal guestlist that ranged from his estranged son Prince Harry to Katy Perry and Nick Cave. However, there was one not-so-famous guest that caught a lot of attention from TV viewers during the ceremony for his unique look. Nobody could identify the man behind the mustache or sunglasses but speculation as to who he could be raged online.

Roger Waters from performing in Frankfurt, Germany.The former Pink Floyd member was set to perform in the city on May 28 as part of his This Is Not A Drill tour – however the show was pulled by the officials at Frankfurt City Council following accusations of anti-Semitism.Now, famous faces including Eric Clapton, Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello and Pink Floyd’s own Nick Mason have rallied behind Waters, and backed a Change.org petition aiming to have the decision overturned.Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and Soft Machine founder Robert Wyatt have also shown their solidarity, as well as actors Susan Sarandon and Julie Christie, and film director Ken Loach. Currently, the petition has more than 10,000 signatures.“Waters’ criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is part of his long-term advocacy on behalf of human rights across the globe,” reads the description alongside the petition.

DEALSReservoir Media has signed a new publishing deal with Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, covering his work with the band and numerous other artists, including David Gilmour, Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt, Nico and more. “I’m very happy to embark on this new relationship with Reservoir and look forward to many fruitful collaborations”, he says.Independent publisher BDi Music has signed emerging artist/songwriter Ellysse Mason to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentWinner of October’s MipJunior Project Pitch for “Princess Anabella,” Dutch studio Phanta Animation has boarded animated music feature “Rock Bottom,” one of Spain’s most singular and ambitious animation projects.Created by multi-prized Spanish animation director Maria Trenor Colomer, winner of a Berlinale Teddy Award for the 2004 short “With What Shall I Wash It?” “Rock Bottom” is lead produced by the Barcelona-based Alba Sotorra production company.Sotorra and Phanta’s Jolande Junte serve as producers.

East India Youth musician will release his new album ‘Great Spans Of Muddy Time’ on March 19 via Tough Love Records, following on from 2019’s ‘Your Wilderness Revisited’.Having shared the record’s lead track ‘And Everything Changed (But I Feel Alright)’ last month, Doyle has now offered up the synth-led second single.“I was aware that time was limited/ And that I’d have to keep it brief/ But then the words came out in all the wrong orders/ The rest were jammed behind my teeth“, the artist sings in the first verse of ‘Nothing At All’.Doyle has described ‘Great Spans Of Muddy Time’ as “kind of Englishman-gone-mad, scrambling around the verdancy of the country’s pastures looking for some sense”, adding: “It has its seeds in Robert Wyatt, early

Mystery Jets have surprised fans with the release of new covers album ‘Home Protests’ – which sees them putting their own spin on classics from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and Willy Mason.The new record also sees the London band extending the themes of their most recent record, ‘A Billion Heartbeats’, to cover a series of protest classics.As well as delivering their own take Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’, the album sees the Jets covering Newman’s ‘Short People’ and Mason’s ‘Oxygen’.Other tracks include their covers of Robert Wyatt’s ‘The Age of Self’ and ‘Don’t Give Up’ – Peter Gabriel’s 1986 duet with Kate Bush.A post shared by

Squid have released two new covers via Bandcamp in aid of a Bristol Food Bank.The Brighton five-piece, who shared the singles ‘Sludge’ and ‘Broadcaster’ earlier this year, have posted their Dan Carey-produced renditions of Robert Wyatt’s ‘Pigs (In There)’ and Steve Reich’s ‘Clapping Music’ under the title ‘Natural Resources’.The latter cover version was first recorded as part of a special session for NME last year, while the former was performed at End Of The Road Festival 2019.Speaking on the new releases, Squid said: “We’ve all been affected by COVID in some way, but for people who were already struggling, the pandemic has increased the likelihood of lasting difficulties that will continue after lockdown comes to an end.“All of the