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ToneQuake Records [Release date 19.05.23]
Fellow Robot originally started out as a concept piece in 2016, pulling lyrics from the sci-fi novel “The Robot’s Guide to Music” written by singer Anthony Pedroza. While deeply rooted to its origins, “Misanthropioid” is an album that lives closer to reality than science fiction however blurred those lines are these days.
Fellow Robot has teamed up with Andrew Scheps (Green Day, RHCP, Adele, Metallica, Hozier, Johnny Cash) who helped co-produce and mix “Misanthropioid” from his home studio in Wales. Scheps joined the team during the heart of the pandemic in 2020 and over the course of two years helped the band complete the album remotely.
However melancholy and dark “Misanthropioid” is, it’s poetic lyrics and dramatic arrangements could be likened to dark stage production. The album is by no means an easy listen, this deep reflection on the state of the human race will challenge you and provoke thought, which I would imagine is exactly what the band intended.
Fellow Robot named their new album “Misanthropioid”, due to its brutally honest lyrics and melancholy feelings surrounding what it is to be a human. “It’s our soundtrack to the last few years” says Pedroza, adding “it’s a diverse take on the perception of emotion, especially regarding how we feel about our fellow humans”.
The first single, “Talk to Me” is a post punk demonstration “it’s purposefully messy, simple and loud” the band says. “Rabbit” is a reflection on the Black Lives Matter movement in the US.
“Comforting” is a track I can imagine being played at funerals as a reflective, melancholy piece.
“People come and people go, and I don’t know if you’re still alive.
“The Backseat” is a moody track reflecting on the fear of depression and the inability to move forward “I’m afraid. I’ll mess it up again”.
“Crash and Burn” seems to be an outpouring a reflection on a relationship gone wrong “I hope you and I cannot survive” “I want to apologise for you… Again”
“The People Next Door”, this seemingly Beatles influenced track was quite interesting. However, there’s something about the musical arrangement that really jarred, and I can’t really explain why.
“Society has many voices, and the space in between the harshest opinions are the most truthful” says drummer, engineer, and cofounder Luis Renteria. Stand out track of the album for me was “Dull Drone”.
“Poppy Fields” was a track that I liked however at nearly 10 minutes long, it felt excessive or indulgent, I’ll let you decide. The lyrics were clever “please give me peace, let the flowers sing and lull the Earth to sleep”.
“Red Eye Lullaby” is one for anyone who travels frequently by plane between perhaps work and home, a look at the impact of that long distance on a relationship, the commuter and their slog with balancing jet lag with the reunion at the end of the journey. You’ll relate to this, especially if you’ve overindulged on the minibar in advance of or during your flight.
All in all, this is an interesting album, definitely not an easy listen but thought provoking nonetheless and tackling darker areas of life. Perfect backdrop for a moody day and probably better suited to dark evenings than summer nights, appreciate this is more poetry put to music.
An interesting ***.
Review by Karen Clayton
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