Not only, 'John Mitchell' take part in a good number of progressive rock projects (search for his name in mypromusic) but in addition, with 'Lonely Robot' he records albums with an impressive frequency because, after his trilogy with 'Please Come Home' in 2015, 'The Big Dream' in 2017 and 'Under Stars' in 2019, 2020 sees the release of 'Feelings Are Good'. In addition, this new baby is well supplied because he offers us an hour of music and John provides, in addition of singing, almost all the instruments except the rhythm section which is devoted to 'Graig Blundell'.
The eponymous track of the album sets the scene with electronic sounds and 'Into the Lo-Fi' which follows takes us on a light rhythm in a hopping style that can recall the end of the 70s with the formation of 'Sting', 'Police' with obviously a modern sound, then 'Spider' hardens the tone for a more rock track with magnificent changes of intensity and with very original melodic lines which upset traditional patterns. Change of atmosphere with 'Crystalline' which is a magnificent ballad, very sober, which puts us on a little cloud and which is taken up at the end of the album in orchestral version, the classical instruments certainly bringing more heat, then, 'Life Is a Sine Way' continues in this line of a sought-after progressive from the 70s close to 'Genesis', 'Graig Blundell' providing a rhythm section quite close to a certain 'Phil Collins' and has a very 'Floydian' beautiful final. With 'Armor For My Heart', the light and soothing pop rock style lulls us to the rhythm of a very beautiful swaying melody, then 'Suburbia' has a 'Supertramp' side but in much more progressive with an imaginative rhythm section that brings the little more that sublimates this title. The second break is brought by 'Silent Life', filled with emotion thanks to the soft voice of 'John Mitchell' which fills the whole space and thanks to the guitar solo, the title being resumed in orchestral version in the bonuses, then, 'Keeping People As Pets', after an introduction with electronic sounds, is more classic in its structure and less progressive, taking us back to the 90s with effects in the vocals and 'Army Of One' is, for my part, the most addicting track , alternating calm and interior storm very well rendered by the singing of John which transmits all kinds of emotions to us, the album ending with the short clean acoustic 'Grief Is The Price Of Love' with the beautiful and sweet voice of 'John Mitchell' which accompanies us one last time.
In summary, with this new album from the English 'Lonely Robot', 'John Mitchell' continues to offer us imaginative and refined progressive with, icing on the cake, an irreproachable production, which should appeal to all those who liked the first episodes in space and, beyond, all the amateurs of an accessible melodic progressive rock which is tasted even better, quietly, with headphones... | |
