Robert Wyatt: This Summer Night (Domino)

If you didn't know Wyatt and came to this soulful, slightly funky and utterly charming single by Robert Wyatt -- released in advance of the reissue of nine of his albums  -- you'd never think this was the same man who delivered the definitive version of Elvis Costello's anti-Falklands War classic Shipbuilding; or that he is a lifelong socialist and has albums with The Red Flag and Trade Union included; or that he covered the Monkees I'm a Believer (extraordinary); has often sung jazz and blues standards (Round Midnight, Strange Fruit); has played with David Gilmour of Pink Floyd among many other rock luminaries; is fiercely political (songs with titles such as United States of Amnesia, East Timor and Biko are your clue) and just so much more. (see tag)

Confined to a wheelchair since a drunken fall in his early 20s this singer/arranger/columnist has had a remarkably diverse and interesting career -- and if it takes  this summery song (which comes with a Hot Chip remix, that's how hip he is) -- to get attention for that forthcoming reissue then so be it.

Meantime, it's cocktail hour with Mr Wyatt . . .