Through his Fred Egg Comics micropublishing venture David Robertson has provided anthology platforms that spotlight other creators and embraced a lo-fi, grassroots style of self-publishing. In the latter case one that has, sadly, contracted significantly in the UK in recent years. His latest collection of comic strip shorts, For the Record: A Lifetime of Loving Music, is not an entirely solo venture this time around but anecdotally featured collaborators are drawn from family. For the main part, though, it’s a journey through Robertson’s personal discography of musical experiences and influences.
Recently on Bluesky I opined that “You do *not* have to be the most accomplished artist in the world to make an excellent comic that speaks to people and communicates your truths.” This to me perfectly sums up Robertson’s approach to comics self-publishing. While his artwork is not overly sophisticated his visual storytelling more than compensates, showing an innate understanding of sequential narrative that allows the reader to tap into the nostalgia-fest that is on offer in these pages.
For the Record is a compilation of vignettes from his personal history. One-page or slightly longer strips that recapture fondly remembered moments in time: childhood favourite LPs, shopping for records with his dad, album gifts at Christmas, and taping favourite theme tunes from the television. If you’re of a certain age it’s all very familiar. If you’re not then it’s a portal into another world where the Top 40 7 inch singles were displayed in pride of place in Woolworth’s and the thought of physically owning songs yourself to endlessly replay on a loop was magical in the extreme.
Unsurprisingly, there are many recognisable points along the way: the death and rebirth of vinyl, the emergence of CDs, the decline of the cassette tape, Top of the Pops, early gigs, and house parties. But there are also plenty of very personal anecdotes as well: “playing the drums” as a child using inflated balloons and pens, a fantasy appearance on Desert Island Discs, and a love of the Robin of Sherwood TV series.
It’s Robertson doing what he does best. As I’ve said before, finding something meaningful and universal in life’s smaller moments. For the Record feels like a throwback to old school DIY culture too which could not be more appropriate for this rather sweet collection of wistfully nostalgic memories.
David Robertson (W/A) • Fred Egg Comics, £7.00
Review by Andy Oliver
