Kimberly Rew

Kimberly Rew's seminal efforts alongside Robyn Hitchcock in the Soft Boys first established his creative credentials before he confirmed his pop pedigree in the early Eighties by penning the hit "Walking On Sunshine" for Katrina and the Waves. But Rew's solo outings eschew the infectious accessibility of his work with the Waves, and Essex Hideaway is his quirkiest effort yet. The essence of English eccentricity, his penchant for spoken-word narratives and the occasional cosmic rave-up also suggest a slightly less demented Syd Barrett. Rew's willingness to indulge an eclectic approach, as noted in "Tourists of Insanity," makes Essex Hideaway a welcome retreat.