It remains arguably the most iconic entry in The Flaming Lips vast discography, which continues to grow in stylistic breadth yet ultimately finds the band returning to the sound codified on their 2002 masterpiece.But in the hands of The Flaming Lips, anything can be a conduit for visionary rock storytelling.Following the back-to-back release of two of their most celebrated albums to date, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots marked a bold step in a new direction, as the band explored fresh technical intricacies and expanded the oddball aesthetic with which they were becoming synonymous.Fronted by madcap showman, Wayne Coyne, the album held hidden depths beneath its neon exterior, sparking rumination on the grand, perennial themes of life, death, and love.
Named after Yoshimi P-we, the drummer of Japanese band The Boredoms (who appears throughout the album), Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots sought to capture the delicate duality of life and death, happiness and misery, love and heartbreak. The bands songwriting skills had grown considerably, precipitating their transition towards a crazier, psychedelic pop sound, aided by recent advances in studio technology and bolstered by their recent critical successes. The albums unconventional title would be the jumping off point for the generation of the entire project, as the band applied this far-flung concept to a steady stream of musical ideas emerging in its wake. Coyne, who spent two days designing and painting the records sleeve art, aptly summarises: When you see that album cover, you know that the music could sound no other way. Check out our Flaming Lips Classic Album Sundays sessions this March in London, Washington D.C. Sydney The album manages an often elegant marriage of futuristic technology and ancient songwriting tradition. Channeling bands like Pink Floyd on songs such as Fight Test and Yoshimi Part 1, synthesisers rub pleasingly against the rustic charm of acoustic guitar and funky drums, creating an unlikely harmony that conjures images of a world in which man and machine live side-by-side. Elsewhere robotics seem to imitate the emotional complexity of human expression. On In The Morning Of The Magicians synths emulate human vocals and stringed instruments, blending seamlessly with the plaintive crooning of Coyne, who sounds perfectly at ease with this uncanny simulation of life. ![]() Ultimately, the albums lush instrumental soundscape seems far more eager to please than shock an effort to lure you into its world with the understated power of a lullaby. Whilst bright and neon-tinged on the surface, Coyne shades these songs with moments of profound reflection; notably on opener Fight Test with lines such as: If its not now, then tell me when would be the time that you would stand up and be a man. ![]() Listen: The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Legacy Playlist Whilst no doubt an entertaining and memorable opening to the album, its in the LPs later tracks that Coyne switches to what is evidently a more straightforwardly sincere approach. Opening with the refrain, I have forgiven you for tricking me again But I have been tricked again Into forgiving you, on Are You A Hypnotist the frontman ruminates on the nature of exploitative relationships, dissecting the issue with enough poetic ambiguity to mirror the sublime effect of the songs artificially choral background. Similarly, on Ego Trippin At The Gates Of Hell Coyne reflects on personal failings with lines such as I was waiting on a moment, but the moment never came, seemingly trying to justify these missteps to himself more than anyone else. Listen: The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Musical Lead-Up Playlist But the albums most potently melancholic tear-jerker arrives in the form of Do You Realise. ![]() Moved by her death, the songs lyrics which were also augmented by the grim day-to-day trauma of Drozds heroin addiction were deceptively simple yet profoundly sincere, encouraging the listener to revel in lifes sweet moments, to absorb the pleasure in every little detail. Commenting on the song, Coyne said: Whenever I analyze the scientific realities of what it means to be living here on Earth in this galaxy spinning around the sun flying through space a terror shock seizes me Im reminded once again of how precarious our whole existence is. Remaining the bands most popular song to this day, and a triumphant fixture of their live sets, its perhaps the greatest embodiment of The Flaming Lips soul-stirring perspective. The albums release marked further success for a band who had rapidly become one of the leading lights of 21st century rock, eventually becoming their first gold-certified album and overtaking the commercial achievements of The Soft Bulletin.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |