Kevin Ayers – Rainbow Takeaway

Kevin Ayers – Rainbow Takeaway

Released in 1978 on Harvest Records, Rainbow Takeaway is the eighth solo studio album by Kevin Ayers, the British singer-songwriter and former founding member of influential experimental rock group Soft Machine. A distinctive figure in the Canterbury scene, Ayers developed a singular musical identity that combined art rock, progressive experimentation, offbeat humour and an enduring affection for melodic pop. This album captures that eccentric sensibility in a collection that balances sophisticated arrangements with his characteristically relaxed delivery.

Ayers' warm, fluid baritone is central to the record's appeal. His songwriting moves effortlessly between gentle, melodic passages, surreal lyrical observations and more elaborate instrumental sections, creating a sound that is unmistakably his own. Soulful touches, country influences and reggae rhythms sit alongside the progressive sensibilities of his earlier work, while keyboards and synthesiser textures add colour to the arrangements.

The album opens with “Blaming It All On Love”, a laid-back, melodic song that showcases Ayers' easygoing vocal style and understated charm. “Ballad Of A Salesman Who Sold Himself” offers a more characteristically eccentric side of his songwriting, while the expansive “A View From The Mountain” develops through extended synthesiser passages that recall his Canterbury progressive rock roots.

The title track, “Rainbow Takeaway”, brings together the album's accessible melodies and gently unconventional atmosphere. Elsewhere, “Waltz For You” offers a more intimate mood, while “Beware Of The Dog II” introduces reggae-inflected rhythms into Ayers' distinctive musical world. “Strange Song” stands out for its chamber-like arrangement, adding another texture to the album's varied palette.

The closing pair of tracks captures the playful unpredictability that made Ayers such an individual artist. “Goodnight Goodnight” provides a melodic change of pace before “Hat Song”, a brief and deliberately chaotic finale that underlines his refusal to take conventional songwriting too seriously.

Featuring contributions from musicians including guitarist Ollie Halsall and keyboard player Billy Livsey, Rainbow Takeaway sits at an interesting point in Ayers' career. It follows 1976's Yes We Have No Mañanas (So Get Your Mañanas Today) and precedes That's What You Get Babe (1980), documenting the continued evolution of an artist whose work bridged British psychedelic rock, the Canterbury scene and more accessible late-1970s songwriting.

For fans of Kevin Ayers, Soft Machine, Canterbury scene recordings and eccentric British art rock, Rainbow Takeaway offers a rewarding mixture of melodic craftsmanship, unusual arrangements and understated humour. It is a distinctive entry in Ayers' solo catalogue and an appealing choice for listeners who appreciate progressive music with personality, warmth and a willingness to take unexpected turns.

Tracklist

Side A

A1. Blaming It All On Love – 3:00
A2. Ballad Of A Salesman Who Sold Himself – 4:30
A3. A View From The Mountain – 6:15
A4. Rainbow Takeaway – 3:50

Side B

B1. Waltz For You – 5:22
B2. Beware Of The Dog II – 5:59
B3. Strange Song – 2:41
B4. Goodnight Goodnight – 3:06
B5. Hat Song – 1:17