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Thread: Album Club, December 2019: Alan Parsons Project - 'I Robot'

  1. #21
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

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    I'm Grant.

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    Interesting album. A bit sifi geek in style and inclined to flit all over the place at times. Its not going to grab me enough to make me love it, but after saying that it was pleasant enough for most part, considering it was perhaps a bit self admiring.
    Also, I had not knowingly heard it before so a plus.
    overall, a 7/10 I think. Maybe a tad high but there were aspects of it I liked..
    Regards,
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    “Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy".

    “You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police ... yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts: words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home -- all the more powerful because forbidden -- terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.”

    "You don't have free will. You have the appearance of free will.”

    “There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!”


    ***SMILE, BE HAPPY***

  2. #22
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Deleted

    Posts: 6,585
    I'm Deleted.

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    Apparently it was originally going to be a concept album (you have to admit that is a very prog trope) based on the ‘I, robot’ short stories (later compiled in to a book) by Issac Asimov. However, during the early stages the film rights for the book were sold and the APP had to rename the album by dropping the , and reworked some of the content so it was less literal to IA’s stories.
    Account Deleted

  3. #23
    Join Date: Jan 2019

    Location: Kent UK

    Posts: 409
    I'm Martin.

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    I've just started to listen to this so will report back later with impressions and score. However, I just wanted to say that the last 3 albums were all totally new to me (although I did recognise 1 or 2 singles).
    I also highly rated the Thomas Dolby one because of the exceptional production and sound quality of the Spotify version.

    On the other hand my offering 1Q next year is within the last 2 years and a first album release to boot!

    Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

  4. #24
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Essex

    Posts: 31,846
    I'm openingabottleofwine.

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    Very ‘70s, all of the Alan Parsons Project’s outputs are superbly recorded and engineered audio extravaganzas, so it is not surprising they were often used as test discs at the audio shows.

    I used to own a few: ‘Tales of Mystery and Imagination’; ‘The Eye in the Sky’ and ‘Ammonia Avenue’, and they were all LPs with which to show off one’s hi-fi to visitors.

    Listening to ‘I Robot’, a recording that had passed me by at the time, I was again reminded of what attracted me to the Alan Parsons Project: interesting subject matter (some of the LPs are conceptual in idea, being based on books); superb recording; superb production; superb musicianship’ and the fun and games of spotting influences.

    On hearing the reverse music of the opening track I thought “Ah Soft Machine” and thereafter heard influences of Floyd’s ‘Atom Hart Mother’; Emerson Lake and Palmer, and of the music of Györgi Ligeti.

    Despite having intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics, I very much preferred the purely instrumental tracks here – as I do on all the APP records I have heard. Sounding very much of its time, and being a bit of a curate’s egg to my ears, I’m scoring it with an 8/10 – simply because I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. And because of that I re-listened to ‘The Eye in the Sky’ afterwards and wondered why I got rid of the few APP records I used to own!

    Good choice Adrian.
    Barry

  5. #25
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

    Posts: 13,239
    I'm Adrian.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Barry View Post
    Very ‘70s, all of the Alan Parsons Project’s outputs are superbly recorded and engineered audio extravaganzas, so it is not surprising they were often used as test discs at the audio shows.

    I used to own a few: ‘Tales of Mystery and Imagination’; ‘The Eye in the Sky’ and ‘Ammonia Avenue’, and they were all LPs with which to show off one’s hi-fi to visitors.

    Listening to ‘I Robot’, a recording that had passed me by at the time, I was again reminded of what attracted me to the Alan Parsons Project: interesting subject matter (some of the LPs are conceptual in idea, being based on books); superb recording; superb production; superb musicianship’ and the fun and games of spotting influences.

    On hearing the reverse music of the opening track I thought “Ah Soft Machine” and thereafter heard influences of Floyd’s ‘Atom Hart Mother’; Emerson Lake and Palmer, and of the music of Györgi Ligeti.

    Despite having intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics, I very much preferred the purely instrumental tracks here – as I do on all the APP records I have heard. Sounding very much of its time, and being a bit of a curate’s egg to my ears, I’m scoring it with an 8/10 – simply because I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. And because of that I re-listened to ‘The Eye in the Sky’ afterwards and wondered why I got rid of the few APP records I used to own!

    Good choice Adrian.
    Great review Barry, interesting how we can move on and forget things we previously experienced and enjoyed. I have always kept listening to APP over the years a bit like a comfy slipper for me, I suspect I am a creature of habit. I find Manfred Mannis similar in how I feel when listening to them, although rather more progie. I have tried to find newer artists that do the same for me but none yet, perhaps someone can point me in the right direction.
    Listening is the act of aural discrimination and dissemination of sound, and accepting you get it wrong sometimes.

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  6. #26
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: West Yorkshire

    Posts: 714
    I'm Andy.

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    Listened to the album 3 times over the last few days.
    Never really listened to anything by the APP before and with the first track I thought it was going to be electronic-ish - but started to drift into typical guitar based songs from the era (Pin Floyd sprung to mind with a few of the tracks)
    But, I did enjoy the album, found it easy to listen to and the production seemed to be on the ball.
    Would I listen to it again ? I think I would when I am in a 70's music mood
    Nice find and many thanks.
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  7. #27
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

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    I'm Allen.

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    I'm confused by this album , Where does Alan Parsons fit in , 3 tracks in and I cant say I have heard Alan singing yet ? Or is Alan producing other artists on the Album , HELP
    [

  8. #28
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

    Posts: 13,239
    I'm Adrian.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Audio Al View Post
    I'm confused by this album , Where does Alan Parsons fit in , 3 tracks in and I cant say I have heard Alan singing yet ? Or is Alan producing other artists on the Album , HELP
    I believe Alan Parson's co-writes(Eric Wolfson), engineers and produces it, which is much the same as the other Alan Parsons Project albums, if you have a look at the liner notes LP on discogs you can see who the artists are. I was going to post the image of it but posting is down for maintenance at the moment.
    Listening is the act of aural discrimination and dissemination of sound, and accepting you get it wrong sometimes.

    Analog Inputs: Pro-Ject Signature 10 TT & arm, Benz Micro LP-S, Michel Cusis MC, Goldring 2500 and Ortofon Rondo Blue cartridges, Hitachi FT5500 mk2 Tuner

    Digital:- Marantz SA-KI Pearl CD player, RaspberryPi/HifiBerry Digi+ Pro, Buffalo NAS Drive

    Amplification:- AudioValve Sunilda phono stage, Krell KSP-7B pre-amp, Krell KSA-80 power amp

    Output: Wilson Benesch Vector speakers, KLH Ultimate One Headphones

    Cables: Tellurium Q Ultra Black II RCA & Chord Epic 2 RCA, various speaker leads, & links


    I think I am nearing audio nirvana, but don’t tell anyone.

  9. #29
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: Woodmancote, West Sussex

    Posts: 1,629
    I'm Ian.

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    I'm surprised this band passed me by, just never got round to it I guess. I've had a couple of listens now and also listened to a couple of other albums and I really like this stuff. Rather reminded me of 10cc with the depth of sound and high production values. I'm going to find a good, clean copy on vinyl for a proper old school listen. 9/10 from me, excellent choice.
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  10. #30
    Join Date: May 2015

    Location: St Leonard's on Sea

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    I'm Loz.

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    I'd never listened to The Alan Parsons Project before so a new one to me. I loved the first few tracks. 'I Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You' is a great track. Don't Let It Show' is the only real dud on this record which for me at least sits somewhere between Roy Ayers and Popol Vuh! Really liked it. I'll buy a copy if one comes up 2nd hand on my travels somewhere. Thanks for the suggestion Adrian. 8/10

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