Interpreter

Interpreter is the thirteenth solo studio album, and twentieth album overall by English rock musician Julian Cope, released by Echo Records in October 1996. Particularly inspired by Cope's involvement with the Newbury bypass protest, the record features socially and environmentally-concerned lyrics. The musician worked with numerous guest musicians, including substantial contributions from Thighpaulsandra, resulting in a sprawling album that extends the pop style of 20 Mothers (1995) while incorporating styles of glam pop, space rock, orchestral pop, with string arrangements and electronic overtones. The record is split into two separate parts, "Phase 1" and "Phase 2". Exemplifying Cope's Neolithic interests, Interpreter was packaged with a fold-out "mythological mind map" depicting sites on the Marlborough Downs, and depicts the Cairnholy standing stones in Scotland on its cover. The album was not a commercial success, reaching number 39 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming his lowest charting album since 1988 and final charting album overall. Nonetheless, the singles "I Come from Another Planet, Baby" and "Planetary Sit-In" made the UK Top 40, and the record received acclaim from music critics. It was Cope's final album before distributing his music independently. Background Julian Cope's 20th album, Interpreter was largely inspired by the musician's participation in the protests against the construction of the Newbury bypass in Berkshire, which occurred over a three-month period in early 1996 when some 7,000 people demonstrated on the site of where approximately of land including of woodland were being cleared to make way for the new road. Cope used the album to tackle social and environmental issues. Thighpaulsandra, who had previously collaborated with Cope on Autogeddon and 20 Mothers, returned to help produce, arrange and musically contribute to the new Cope album; his contributions included heavy usage of the ARP and EMS VCS 3 synthesisers, string arrangements, piano, "preened" vocals and the organ solo that concludes "Since I Lost My Head, It's Awl-Right." Cope himself, in addition to vocals, guitar and bass guitar, played Mark II and 400 mark Mellotrons.