By Natalia Maltais | Observer Contributor
With catchy sci-fi themes and vivid imagery, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by the Flaming Lips is a diamond in the rough.
The album starts with “Fight Test”, a bubbly, yet heavy pop song that’s a call to action. It begins with a passive fighter, “I thought it better not to fight, I thought there was a virtue in always being cool.” As Coyne sings over warped, humming keyboards and a thick bass he begins to realize he’s ready to fight, but still fights his own skepticism. “Cause I’m a man not a boy and there are things you can’t avoid. You have to face them when you’re not prepared to face them.”
Taking a sharp right turn, “One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21” introduces the ultimate test. A slow starting, ambient song that echos with Coyne’s falsetto and digital clicks that bring this robot to life: “Unit three thousand twenty one is warming. Makes a humming sound, when it circuits.” As the song breaks down it comes to an eerie moment that makes the listener feel a small sense of dread. It’s quickly wiped away with a light digital orchestra that perfectly lightens up to fade into the next lighthearted song.
Infectiously simple is the best way to describe “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1”. With a simple beat, catchy chorus, and innocent imagery it’s hard not to get this song stuck in your head. “Those evil-natured robots they’re programmed to destroy us. She’s gotta be strong to fight them so she’s taking lots of vitamins.” It’s followed by “Yoshimi Part 2”, a rollercoaster of synth breakdowns that builds the picture of Yoshimi in the midst of battle. With blood curdling screams that end with a cheering crowd once the robot is defeated. It’s very similar to something straight out of a videogame.
“In The Morning Of The Magicians” throws you off with a smooth transition to another sci-fi themed song with similar bass to “Fight Test”. However, don’t let it fool you. It devolves into a symphonic acoustic, heavy song. “What is love and what is hate, and why does it matter?”
Soft backing vocals with fluctuating tape speeds over them, it makes the deep, philosophical lyrics seem less intense. “The universe will have its way. Too powerful to master.” Sadly, this is the turning point for the album and it continues with heavy lyrics and light-hearted beats.
With a rehashed bassline from the previous song, “Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell” still shines bright throughout the whole album. A beautiful sound collage including mellotron snippets, tied with existential lyrics is what makes this song shine. “I was waiting on the moment. But the moment never came.” Coyne echos, bringing back the themes of being ready to fight from “Fight Test”.
“Are You A Hypnotist?” brings back some beautiful real drums with glitchy fills. As the song progresses, it begins to swell into white noise with a background choir. Coyne indulges in clever wordplay: “I had forgiven you for tricking me again. But I have been tricked again into forgiving you.”
With heavy Beatles inspiration, “It’s Summertime” is a slightly underwhelming track given the potential it holds. “When you look inside, all you’ll see is a self-reflected inner sadness.” Crunchy lead guitars and clean rhythm guitar give it a warm and hopeful feeling.
Followed by “Do You Realize?” the adorable countdown introduction bursts out into another bubbly pop tune similar to “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1”.
Coyne lists several observations such as, “Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?” Although a beautiful song, it’s far too similar to “The Living Years” by Mike and The Machine.
“All We Have Is Now” is a beautifully chaotic instrumental track. With varying tempos and subtle clips and glitches it’s a true treat to headphone listeners. Lyric wise, it’s lost the emotional pull and strong lyrics as presented earlier in the album.
“Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon” is the final track on Yoshimi and it’s also the second instrumental. A short, anticlimactic track that could have easily been dropped.
It features distant, warped vocals that sound reused from “Yoshimi Part 2”. Bold and brash trumpets appear about half way through throwing the whole song awry.
Although the album is only 45 minutes long, and it seems to drop off towards the last two tracks, it’s intricate melodies and subtle details make it shine. The nearly inaudible vocals make you listen and with every listen you can notice another subtle detail.
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