Last time I posted two robot songs by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard; a band I've been listening to a lot of in recent months, but it took me a while to realise that they'd done a handful of robot songs (I really must pay more attention when listening to music).
This time I'm posting a robot song by a band I've been listening to for the best part of thirty years, and I've only just noticed that they've got a robot song tucked up their sleeve... and they only released it eight years ago! Gong mostly sing songs about pixies and teapots and all sorts of new-age stuff and apart from Mother Gong's Robot Woman LPs, proper Gong just don't do robots... or so I thought.
Gong formed in the fields of northern France in the late nineteen-sixties and despite numerous line-up changes, splits, reformations, disbands, rebrands, reunions and far too much mortality, they're still going strong. Gong are arguably my favourite band of all time, and it's only a handful of their early albums that keep me going back to them. My big brother introduced me to Gong in around nineteen-eighty-eight, and I was happy in nineteen-eighty-nine when Gong (under the banner of Gongmaison) came to play in Morecambe of all places, and the tickets were a mere £3. As mentioned, they've been my favourite band ever since, although their output after the Gongmaison album has (in my mind) not been great. The Shapeshifter album (1992) disappointed me on so many levels so I wasn't expecting much from their next release; Zero to Infinity (2000). It sounded like a poor impression of themselves. They'd long lost the spark that they once had way back in the early seventies, and only frontman, founder and driving force Daevid Allen remained from their classic line-up. I'd briefly listen to subsequent recordings but never returned for a second listen until I heard 2014's I See You, which was by far their best LP since Gongmaison (1989). Daevid Allen died aged 77 in 2015, and I guess I was just as surprised and bewildered as anyone when it was announced in early 2016 that Gong would continue.
In September 2016, Gong released Rejoice, I'm Dead! which far exceeded my expectations. It's arguably their best LP since 1989 and along with I See You, is the only one since Gongmaison that I've given repeated listens... which explains why it's taken me so long to discover their robot song.
Robo-Warriors is tucked away on their 2032 LP, released in 2009. After several disappointing albums, I'm not sure if I ever gave 2032 a proper listen before today, and it's actually quite good.
Monday, 27 November 2017
Monday, 13 November 2017
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard : Robot Stop
It's been a long time since my last post here on 101 Songs About Robots... but it's been a most eventful year to date. Since my previous entry, which featured the hugely talented Beardyman and the Masters of Distraction performing My Robotic Skin is Bleeding live on Tom Robinson's 6Music show, I've been in talks with the B bloody BC of all people! They were impressed with my 'finger on the trigger button' approach to blogging and were keen on using the 'songs about robots' format on their network. I was keen on a six part series on BBC1, similar to Danny Baker's Rockin' Decades, but on BBC1 and in a prestigious prime time slot rather than tucked away in the arse end of BBC4.
I also floated the idea of a two part docudrama which charts my decade long search for one-hundred-and-one songs about robots. I proposed Daniel Craig play the lead role (who bears a striking resemblance to yours truly in both looks and physique), along with a supporting cast including Maureen Lippmann, Daniel Radcliffe, Billy Piper and Bjork. The BBC, however weren't quite so keen on using my 'songs about robots' format for a ratings-busting television series, but for radio!
With the wind thoroughly knocked out of my sails, I battled on henceforward and entered talks with the big knobs at BBC 6 Music. I suggested filling the Sunday 1pm slot as well as hosting (where is) Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service at 4pm that very same Sunday. This would be followed by a special Now Playing show on the theme of robot songs, curated by yours truly, as well as being the major guest on Stuart Maconie's FreakZone, taking about freaky robot songs. This would have been a great treat for the listeners since I would have previously curated the FreakZone Playlist too... but alas, it was not to be. I was mad keen on the TV show and felt that the only way I'd get it was to use my intellectual property rights as leverage. "No TV show, no radio!" is what I told 'em. I stormed out of the BBC canteen with my head held high and rather large wheel of Stilton concealed 'neath my cape.
The Sunday 1pm slot never happened, nor did my chance at filling (where is) Jarvis Cocker's shoes on the Sunday Service. And since Stuart Maconie had a cream cracker buttered an poised, ready to be clad in a modest layer of Stilton at the moment of my departure, my involvement with the FreakZone show also came to an abrupt end. I prefer the Interesting Alternative Show these days anyway, hosted by cue wielding snooker legend Steve Davis and his sidekick /slash/ Gong member Kavus Tuvetti... Tavardi... Tivolli... any way... I stormed out of the BBC taking my intellectual property with me. And what did the BBC do? You guessed it!
In the early hours of Sunday 5th November, Stuart Maconie broadcast a robot themed playlist hosted by not me, but a feckin' robot. And later that very same day, after the edition of (where is) Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service that i should have been hosting, Tom Robinson hosted a Now Playing show also on a theme of robots! The sneaky buggers had twisted my format just enough to allow them to claim it as their own. Livid doesn't come close. I phoned my lawyer and sought legal advice, only to be told that by simply removing the words 'songs' and 'about' from my 'songs about robots' format means they can claim my intellectual property as their own. I was also advised to either remove most of the above from my blog or clearly state that it mostly didn't happen, and anything stated that did happen, most likely didn't happen to me.
However the fact* remains that neither Robinson nor Maconie gave me any credit for my blog being fundamental in the curation of both their 'robot' themed shows (Maconie played Kraftwerk, Connie Francis and Black Sabbath, all leached from this very blog)... and adding insult to injury, not a single listener stated that my blog was instrumental in helping them decide which tracks to suggest for the Now Playing show (which featured Goldie Lookin' Chain, Marina and the Diamonds, Damon Albarn, Kraftwerk (again), Grandaddy, Flaming Lips, Flight of the Conchords, Gary Numan, Black Sabbath (again... very unprofessional) and many more that I'm yet to blog about)... and as if rubbing salt into the wound, Robinson didn't play my suggested track; Synthetic Man by Rockets (ticking both 'robot' and 'bonfire night' boxes).
Hard done by doesn't come into it!
But one good thing did come out of my (possibly imaginary) experience with the BBC... and that is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Having heard their name mentioned early in the year, I was drawn to their performance on the Glastonbury coverage. They're by far the best band I've heard since Fiery Furnaces, with their raucous non-stop space infused psych-rock... but I didn't realise that they'd written a handful of robot songs until I listened to Tom Robinson's Now Playing (plagiarising!) show. Robinson played Han-Tyumi: The Confused Cyborg whilst Maconie played Robot Stop earlier that day... so by way of getting my own back, I'm going to post both of them!
From their 2016 LP titled 'Nonagon Infinity', it's King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with Robot Stop.
I suppose I'd better throw Maconie a bone and let my loyal readers give his (ahem) 'Robot' playlist a listen, or at least a look at the track listing when the show's no longer available. I'll warn you though... most are instrumental and therefore are not 'songs' about robots, and of the songs featured, at least two of them aren't about robots either since they merely have a robot title and no lyrical references.
If I'd been involved, it wouldn't have been quite so sloppy.
*The evidence: Between the 1st and 3rd of November 2017, 101 Songs About Robots had a total of ten page views. On the 4th it had thirty-seven page views, clearly from Stuart Maconie researching his (cough) playlist. On the 5th it had forty-eight page views, evidently from Tom Robinson's listeners looking for inspiration on this hitherto unknown genre... and on the 6th, three.
I also floated the idea of a two part docudrama which charts my decade long search for one-hundred-and-one songs about robots. I proposed Daniel Craig play the lead role (who bears a striking resemblance to yours truly in both looks and physique), along with a supporting cast including Maureen Lippmann, Daniel Radcliffe, Billy Piper and Bjork. The BBC, however weren't quite so keen on using my 'songs about robots' format for a ratings-busting television series, but for radio!
With the wind thoroughly knocked out of my sails, I battled on henceforward and entered talks with the big knobs at BBC 6 Music. I suggested filling the Sunday 1pm slot as well as hosting (where is) Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service at 4pm that very same Sunday. This would be followed by a special Now Playing show on the theme of robot songs, curated by yours truly, as well as being the major guest on Stuart Maconie's FreakZone, taking about freaky robot songs. This would have been a great treat for the listeners since I would have previously curated the FreakZone Playlist too... but alas, it was not to be. I was mad keen on the TV show and felt that the only way I'd get it was to use my intellectual property rights as leverage. "No TV show, no radio!" is what I told 'em. I stormed out of the BBC canteen with my head held high and rather large wheel of Stilton concealed 'neath my cape.
The Sunday 1pm slot never happened, nor did my chance at filling (where is) Jarvis Cocker's shoes on the Sunday Service. And since Stuart Maconie had a cream cracker buttered an poised, ready to be clad in a modest layer of Stilton at the moment of my departure, my involvement with the FreakZone show also came to an abrupt end. I prefer the Interesting Alternative Show these days anyway, hosted by cue wielding snooker legend Steve Davis and his sidekick /slash/ Gong member Kavus Tuvetti... Tavardi... Tivolli... any way... I stormed out of the BBC taking my intellectual property with me. And what did the BBC do? You guessed it!
In the early hours of Sunday 5th November, Stuart Maconie broadcast a robot themed playlist hosted by not me, but a feckin' robot. And later that very same day, after the edition of (where is) Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service that i should have been hosting, Tom Robinson hosted a Now Playing show also on a theme of robots! The sneaky buggers had twisted my format just enough to allow them to claim it as their own. Livid doesn't come close. I phoned my lawyer and sought legal advice, only to be told that by simply removing the words 'songs' and 'about' from my 'songs about robots' format means they can claim my intellectual property as their own. I was also advised to either remove most of the above from my blog or clearly state that it mostly didn't happen, and anything stated that did happen, most likely didn't happen to me.
However the fact* remains that neither Robinson nor Maconie gave me any credit for my blog being fundamental in the curation of both their 'robot' themed shows (Maconie played Kraftwerk, Connie Francis and Black Sabbath, all leached from this very blog)... and adding insult to injury, not a single listener stated that my blog was instrumental in helping them decide which tracks to suggest for the Now Playing show (which featured Goldie Lookin' Chain, Marina and the Diamonds, Damon Albarn, Kraftwerk (again), Grandaddy, Flaming Lips, Flight of the Conchords, Gary Numan, Black Sabbath (again... very unprofessional) and many more that I'm yet to blog about)... and as if rubbing salt into the wound, Robinson didn't play my suggested track; Synthetic Man by Rockets (ticking both 'robot' and 'bonfire night' boxes).
Hard done by doesn't come into it!
But one good thing did come out of my (possibly imaginary) experience with the BBC... and that is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Having heard their name mentioned early in the year, I was drawn to their performance on the Glastonbury coverage. They're by far the best band I've heard since Fiery Furnaces, with their raucous non-stop space infused psych-rock... but I didn't realise that they'd written a handful of robot songs until I listened to Tom Robinson's Now Playing (plagiarising!) show. Robinson played Han-Tyumi: The Confused Cyborg whilst Maconie played Robot Stop earlier that day... so by way of getting my own back, I'm going to post both of them!
From their 2016 LP titled 'Nonagon Infinity', it's King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with Robot Stop.
I suppose I'd better throw Maconie a bone and let my loyal readers give his (ahem) 'Robot' playlist a listen, or at least a look at the track listing when the show's no longer available. I'll warn you though... most are instrumental and therefore are not 'songs' about robots, and of the songs featured, at least two of them aren't about robots either since they merely have a robot title and no lyrical references.
If I'd been involved, it wouldn't have been quite so sloppy.
*The evidence: Between the 1st and 3rd of November 2017, 101 Songs About Robots had a total of ten page views. On the 4th it had thirty-seven page views, clearly from Stuart Maconie researching his (cough) playlist. On the 5th it had forty-eight page views, evidently from Tom Robinson's listeners looking for inspiration on this hitherto unknown genre... and on the 6th, three.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Han-Tyumi, The Confused Cyborg
Stealing a song from Tom Robinson's recent Now Playing show which shamelessly and blatantly plagiarised my 'songs about robots' format... I'll go one better and not only give you Han-Tyumi, The Confused Cyborg, but the entire Han-Tyumi and the Murder of the Universe suite... enjoy!
Taken from their psych-tastic 'Murder of the Universe' album... track listing is as follows:
It wouldn't be fair to throw Maconie a bone and not let Robinson share it with him, so here's a link to the Now Plagiarising show on the theme of robots... a show which didn't feature Synthetic Man by Rockets, but it would have been a heck of a lot better if it had.
Taken from their psych-tastic 'Murder of the Universe' album... track listing is as follows:
- 00.00 Welcome To An Altered Future
- 00.55 Digital Black
- 03.42 Han-Tyumi, The Confused Cyborg
- 06.47 Soy-Protein Munt Machine
- 06.34 Vomit Coffin
- 08.53 Murder Of The Universe
It wouldn't be fair to throw Maconie a bone and not let Robinson share it with him, so here's a link to the Now Plagiarising show on the theme of robots... a show which didn't feature Synthetic Man by Rockets, but it would have been a heck of a lot better if it had.
Sunday, 15 January 2017
My Robotic Skin is Bleeding / Screen Addiction : Beardyman and the Masters of Distraction
I'm writing this post as this song is being composed and performed live on the fly on BBC Radio 6 Music. This isn't 'hot off the press'. it's not even on the press, yet... but
it's a robot song that's fresher than a fresh thing in fresher's week.
The premise is, listeners of Tom Robinson's Now Playing show send in titles to songs that don't exist and the superbly talented Beardyman and his band, the Masters of Distraction are making the songs up live, improvised and synthesised.
The premise is, listeners of Tom Robinson's Now Playing show send in titles to songs that don't exist and the superbly talented Beardyman and his band, the Masters of Distraction are making the songs up live, improvised and synthesised.
You can could listen to the entire show here... but they're only available for a month after broadcast. Beardyman's hour long live and improvised set is 60 minutes in and the song, My Robotic Skin is Bleeding / Screen Addiction
is a 105 minutes in (that's about an hour and three-quarters in
imperial). I'll also give a shout to Ben Oldham who suggested the
'robotic skin' half of the title and thus, inspired the robot theme of
the song... great work Ben! :)
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Cybernetic Surgery : The Cybermen
Like Sheffield, Accrington is nestled in the foothills of the Pennines. Accrington is home to Accrington Stanley FC, the football club best known for being the football club that no one's ever heard of. It's also home to The Cybermen...
No not those Cybermen! These Cybermen...
...they are from Accrington after all... not Mondas.
If it wasn't for Hawkwind, The Cybermen may never have formed but thankfully they did and the first song on their first EP was titled Cybernetic Surgery; recorded in '77 and released in '78. It's a punk influenced slice of 70s pub rock, written on the cheap, recorded on the cheap, released on the cheap and the cover was designed using letteraset and a photostat machine... and that's punk through and through. It's not about the spitting or the shouting, it's about the DIY approach; making music for the hell of it. Sadly the DIY approached spelled doom for The Cybermen when the 'unfortunate borrowing' of most of their equipment prevented them from continuing beyond 1979... and I guess the world just wasn't ready for a three piece acapella punk band from Accrington.
Thanks to boredteenagers.co.uk for letting me plagiarise their information and borrow a photo. Further reading on The Cybermen can be found here... the free 'info pack' that came with their second EP is well worth a read.
Does anyone under the age of forty even know what a letteraset or photostat machine is? Answers on a postcard to PO Box 101, Cyberster, Cybershire. ...and don't forget to put your age.
 |
| image from cazphoto.co.uk - used without permission |
 |
| Paul Milek (drums), Ian Dixon (bass, vocals), Roger Entwistle (guitar, vocals) |
...they are from Accrington after all... not Mondas.
If it wasn't for Hawkwind, The Cybermen may never have formed but thankfully they did and the first song on their first EP was titled Cybernetic Surgery; recorded in '77 and released in '78. It's a punk influenced slice of 70s pub rock, written on the cheap, recorded on the cheap, released on the cheap and the cover was designed using letteraset and a photostat machine... and that's punk through and through. It's not about the spitting or the shouting, it's about the DIY approach; making music for the hell of it. Sadly the DIY approached spelled doom for The Cybermen when the 'unfortunate borrowing' of most of their equipment prevented them from continuing beyond 1979... and I guess the world just wasn't ready for a three piece acapella punk band from Accrington.
Thanks to boredteenagers.co.uk for letting me plagiarise their information and borrow a photo. Further reading on The Cybermen can be found here... the free 'info pack' that came with their second EP is well worth a read.
Does anyone under the age of forty even know what a letteraset or photostat machine is? Answers on a postcard to PO Box 101, Cyberster, Cybershire. ...and don't forget to put your age.
Friday, 11 November 2016
Anorexic Robot : Fat Truckers
I've been wanting to post this particular song right from the beginning... but was prevented by only having it on MP3 and I couldn't be bothered to upload it to YouTube myself. There was a shaky handy-cam video of a performance of this particular robot song but its audio & video quality wasn't up to standard so it never got posted. Having recently found a new video on YouTube, the time has come to find out what happens when robot songs and eating disorders collide.
Fat Truckers hail from Sheffield, a northern city with an industrial heart and an unsurpassed musical provenance. The Human League, Pulp, Richard Hawley, Heaven 17, Tony Christie, Arctic Monkeys, Chakk, Cabaret Voltaire, Joe Cocker (and son Jarvis), I Monster, Living in a Box, All Seeing I, LFO and many more all hailed from these industrial foothills of the Pennines. Some were good, some were great and many still are... but Fat Truckers didn't enjoy the success or longevity of some of their better known contemporaries. They didn't seem to last very long at all. One LP plus three singles adds up to a non-hit wonder... but that is of no concern. I don't care about chart success or how big a band's back catalogue is. One decent tune with a robotic theme is my sole concern, and this robot song bangs and clanks with the best of 'em. Taken from the 2003 LP 'The First Fat Truckers Album is for Sale', it's Anorexic Robot by Fat Truckers.
Fat Truckers hail from Sheffield, a northern city with an industrial heart and an unsurpassed musical provenance. The Human League, Pulp, Richard Hawley, Heaven 17, Tony Christie, Arctic Monkeys, Chakk, Cabaret Voltaire, Joe Cocker (and son Jarvis), I Monster, Living in a Box, All Seeing I, LFO and many more all hailed from these industrial foothills of the Pennines. Some were good, some were great and many still are... but Fat Truckers didn't enjoy the success or longevity of some of their better known contemporaries. They didn't seem to last very long at all. One LP plus three singles adds up to a non-hit wonder... but that is of no concern. I don't care about chart success or how big a band's back catalogue is. One decent tune with a robotic theme is my sole concern, and this robot song bangs and clanks with the best of 'em. Taken from the 2003 LP 'The First Fat Truckers Album is for Sale', it's Anorexic Robot by Fat Truckers.
Tuesday, 1 November 2016
Do The Robot : The Saints
It's All Saints Day so what better reason to post something by The Saints, the antipodean punk pioneers who's debut single was released in September '76, making them the first 'punk' group outside the USA to release a single. The Saints are still active and are hailed as a major influence on the punk genre.
Do the Robot (AKA International Robots) is taken from their 1978 LP 'Eternally Yours', although it does appear as a bonus track on one re-issue of their 1977 debut album '(I'm) Stranded'. This is proper punk, not that 'shock your granny' punk-pop that the Sex Pistols sold us... enjoy!
Do the Robot (AKA International Robots) is taken from their 1978 LP 'Eternally Yours', although it does appear as a bonus track on one re-issue of their 1977 debut album '(I'm) Stranded'. This is proper punk, not that 'shock your granny' punk-pop that the Sex Pistols sold us... enjoy!
Monday, 31 October 2016
Death Orgy 9000 : Kaviar
Whilst I've been neglecting this blog for far too long, I've also managed to forget that a handful of readers have suggested some robot songs for me to post. This suggestion came from 'Anonymous' back in February, and since it's scary on several levels, it's an ideal robot song for Halloween.
Death Orgy 9000 is by Kaviar, a band fronted by Kevin Gilbert and is taken from one of several posthumous releases; The Kaviar Sessions (2002). Gilbert died in 1996 from apparent autoerotic asphyxiation which, without wanting to appear disrespectful, is a really silly way to die.
Don't try it at home kids... or anywhere else!
You may want to check out some other robot songs with a vague Halloween theme, or you may not.
If like me, you've nothing better to do, then have a look at my post from Halloween 2014 which features Black Sabbath, Bender and Bruce Haack.
Death Orgy 9000 is by Kaviar, a band fronted by Kevin Gilbert and is taken from one of several posthumous releases; The Kaviar Sessions (2002). Gilbert died in 1996 from apparent autoerotic asphyxiation which, without wanting to appear disrespectful, is a really silly way to die.
Don't try it at home kids... or anywhere else!
You may want to check out some other robot songs with a vague Halloween theme, or you may not.
If like me, you've nothing better to do, then have a look at my post from Halloween 2014 which features Black Sabbath, Bender and Bruce Haack.
Sunday, 30 October 2016
Electric Barbarella : Duran Duran
The other day when posting the Hungry Like the Wolf parody song Cyborg 101, I wondered if Duran Duran's Electric Barbarella was on topic or not... so I perused the lyrics and you can guess the rest.
As most of you will know, Duran Duran took their name from the film Barbarella and as many may rightly assume, this song is another of their homages to that film. The lead role of Barbarella was played by Jane Fonda.. although she ain't no robot. However Duran Duran's Electric Barbarella is a bot... but it's a long way from my favourite Duran Duran song. It lacks their classic sound of funky bass and cutting guitar but its better than nothing, which is what I've been posting for most of this year.
As most of you will know, Duran Duran took their name from the film Barbarella and as many may rightly assume, this song is another of their homages to that film. The lead role of Barbarella was played by Jane Fonda.. although she ain't no robot. However Duran Duran's Electric Barbarella is a bot... but it's a long way from my favourite Duran Duran song. It lacks their classic sound of funky bass and cutting guitar but its better than nothing, which is what I've been posting for most of this year.
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Space Girl : Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger
My ongoing quest for robot songs has thrown up more than a few surprises... but I didn't expect for one second that the great Ewan MacColl would be making an appearance. This song was co-written with Peggy Seeger (who I presume is on vocal duties) in 1952 for a short opera titled 'You're Only Young Once'. According my source, Space Girl parodies The Ghost Soldier Song which I cannot find but its a WWI song and therefore, undoubtedly grim. Space Girl also parodies 1940s sci-fi themes and has its robo-reference at the end of the first verse. It's a cracking tune but as a robot song, it's a bit tenuous so I wasn't sure whether to post it or not... but I did, I did, I did.
*The 1952 date could be wrong... one source says Space Girl was written in 1952, but another source says MacColl & Seeger began working (and loving) together in 1956. Either way, it's the first song I've dug up with a robot reference from the 50s and the second oldest on this blog.
*The 1952 date could be wrong... one source says Space Girl was written in 1952, but another source says MacColl & Seeger began working (and loving) together in 1956. Either way, it's the first song I've dug up with a robot reference from the 50s and the second oldest on this blog.
Friday, 28 October 2016
Cyborg 101 : Bonecage
I'm quite fond of a parody song. I'm also quite fond of Duran Duran and have been wondering if their late 90s single Electric Barbarella counts as robot song or not... although admittedly, I haven't studied the lyrics for a definite robo-reference. I'm more of a Rio / Seven & the Ragged Tiger era Duranee and Hungry Like the Wolf was one of my favourites. Here, it's been reworked as an homage to the classic cyber-thriller Terminator and although a bit underwhelming... it is bang on topic so here it is, Bonecage's Terminator/Hungry Like the Wolf parody, Cyborg 101.
I won't leave it quite so long before my next post... but I've said that before, so who knows?
In the mean time, keep on robot-rocking!
I won't leave it quite so long before my next post... but I've said that before, so who knows?
In the mean time, keep on robot-rocking!
Friday, 25 December 2015
Want You Gone : Jonathon Coulton
The first robot song I posted by Jonathan Coulton was titled Still Alive; his gloriously haunting contribution to the video game Portal... and it remains to be one of my all time favourite robot songs.
This final instalment of the hugely anticipated Jonathan Coultonathon is the song he contributed to Portal 2... Want You Gone, also sung by GLaDOS and is just as beautiful and haunting as Still Alive but with a hefty chunk of analogue synth programming thrown in for good measure.
Check out the Easter Egg in this post to hear my favourite version of Still Alive featuring vocals by Sara Quin and some ecstatic theramin playing by Dorit Chrysler... but only after you've given the wonderful Want You Gone a spin.
This final instalment of the hugely anticipated Jonathan Coultonathon is the song he contributed to Portal 2... Want You Gone, also sung by GLaDOS and is just as beautiful and haunting as Still Alive but with a hefty chunk of analogue synth programming thrown in for good measure.
Check out the Easter Egg in this post to hear my favourite version of Still Alive featuring vocals by Sara Quin and some ecstatic theramin playing by Dorit Chrysler... but only after you've given the wonderful Want You Gone a spin.
Thursday, 24 December 2015
The Future Soon : Jonathan Coulton
There's not much to say about this penultimate instalment of the 101 Songs About Robots 2015 Jonathan Coultonathon apart from the fact that Jonathan Coulton is still fantasising about having a girlfriend, possibly, one day, maybe [dream on]. Actually, I shouldn't be so flippant since for all I know, Mr C could at this very moment be cybernetically enhancing himself and building his own robot army, one laser at a time...
The Future Soon is the opening track on Jonathan Coulton's first EP titled 'Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow' and was released in 2004. From such humble beginnings, who'd have thought he'd have gone on to pen so many wonderful songs? Not just about robots but all sorts of things such as love, lobsters, monkeys, writing code, being a geek, having a beard and zombies. But this one's about robots.
Tune in tomorrow for the final blah blah blah blah of the Jonathan blahblahathon... oh go on... there's an Easter Egg in it for you!
The Future Soon is the opening track on Jonathan Coulton's first EP titled 'Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow' and was released in 2004. From such humble beginnings, who'd have thought he'd have gone on to pen so many wonderful songs? Not just about robots but all sorts of things such as love, lobsters, monkeys, writing code, being a geek, having a beard and zombies. But this one's about robots.
Tune in tomorrow for the final blah blah blah blah of the Jonathan blahblahathon... oh go on... there's an Easter Egg in it for you!
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Better : Jonathan Coulton
Sharing the future with cybernetic lifeforms is inevitable, and it seems that more often than not this prospect is painted as some sort of living nightmare... for the humans anyway. In this robot song, Jonathan Coulton vividly imagines not only having a girlfriend, but one who upgrades herself with cybernetic implants such as infra-red eyes, underwater breathing apparatus, a personal flight system and even a few extra thumbs (not to mention a weapons system)... dream on you weirdy beardy!
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Battle of Galactica : Jonathan Coulton
People my age look back at Battlestar Galactica with fond memories, and most of us spat out our popcorn when news came through that a remake was in the pipeline... especially when the producers decided that the legendary Starbuck character was going to be female! Now I know there's many who'll disagree, but the remake was a cracking bit of telly. Great characters, top-notch CGI, loads of dog fights, gun fights and fist fights and one or two sexy cylons... what's not to like?! My biggest fear whilst sitting through the four series was that it'd nosedive before being prematurely pulled. But that didn't happen... they gave us a complete adventure, the stuff of legends, from its explosive mini-series to its predictable finale... OK, there were some sh!te episodes, and Lee (Apollo) Adama has a face that is almost as punchable as Matt (bloody) Damon's... and that goodie-two-shoes teacher played by Donnie Darko's mum got progressively annoying... but other than that, I like it! ...and I guess Jonathan Coulton does too.
Tune in tomorrow for part three of this cybergsongathon! (nearly wrote cybergsongathong :P )
Tune in tomorrow for part three of this cybergsongathon! (nearly wrote cybergsongathong :P )
Monday, 21 December 2015
Todd the T-1000 : Jonathan Coulton
The neglectful blogmeister is back and finally, after a twelve month wait, I bring you, without further ado, the much awaited, the anticipated, the very first instalment of the cyber-special you've all been waiting for, so without another further ado, here it is... part one of a week long Jonathan Coultonathon!!!
[drum roll]...
"Who the f**k is Jonathan Coultonathon?" I hear you yell.
With a hollow sigh and a slightly shaky head, "It's just Jonathan Coulton!" I yell back at the faceless voices that echo through the blogosphere.
"WHO?" you holler. I give up.
Imagine a slightly younger, mildly beardy and wildly nerdier Richard Digance, but one who's more "Who loves Star Wars?" than "Who remembers Spangles?". Looking at Jonathan Coulton's wikipedia page, I now realise that I should have started this cyber-celebration three weeks ago as JC celebrated his 45th birthday on 1st December... happy belated birthday JC!
You may recall JCs first feature on 101 Songs About Robots with Still Alive which featured in the video game Portal and graced the pages of this blog back in August 2014... and his much appreciated contribution to last year's 101 Songs About Robots Xmas Special where he gave us the cyber-chrimbo-classic Chiron Beta Prime. Well he's back with five more robotic ballads; one a day from today until Friday, making this Jonathan Coultonathon a very short android-advent... and you won't be disappointed!
Well you might. Today's song warns of the trouble and turmoil that could arise when one decides to upgrade their old domestic android for the very latest model...
[fan made video alert]
Todd the T1000 is taken from Jonathan Coulton's third studio album titled 'Our Bodies, Ourselves, Our Cybernetic Arms' from 2005... tune in tomorrow for another robo-ditty from the cyber-songsmith himself; Jonathan Coulton... athon.
[drum roll]...
"Who the f**k is Jonathan Coultonathon?" I hear you yell.
With a hollow sigh and a slightly shaky head, "It's just Jonathan Coulton!" I yell back at the faceless voices that echo through the blogosphere.
"WHO?" you holler. I give up.
Imagine a slightly younger, mildly beardy and wildly nerdier Richard Digance, but one who's more "Who loves Star Wars?" than "Who remembers Spangles?". Looking at Jonathan Coulton's wikipedia page, I now realise that I should have started this cyber-celebration three weeks ago as JC celebrated his 45th birthday on 1st December... happy belated birthday JC!
You may recall JCs first feature on 101 Songs About Robots with Still Alive which featured in the video game Portal and graced the pages of this blog back in August 2014... and his much appreciated contribution to last year's 101 Songs About Robots Xmas Special where he gave us the cyber-chrimbo-classic Chiron Beta Prime. Well he's back with five more robotic ballads; one a day from today until Friday, making this Jonathan Coultonathon a very short android-advent... and you won't be disappointed!
Well you might. Today's song warns of the trouble and turmoil that could arise when one decides to upgrade their old domestic android for the very latest model...
[fan made video alert]
Todd the T1000 is taken from Jonathan Coulton's third studio album titled 'Our Bodies, Ourselves, Our Cybernetic Arms' from 2005... tune in tomorrow for another robo-ditty from the cyber-songsmith himself; Jonathan Coulton... athon.
Friday, 13 November 2015
Robot Daydream : Solstis & Oddeeo
I've been doing a bit of digging on SoundCloud and have found a couple of robot themed songs to share. Here's one of them. I've spent several moments researching the artists Solstis & Oddeeo and there's not a lot of information about them; Oddeeo fiddles about with vocoder stuff (or whatever you kids call it these days), so I guess Solstis is responsible for the music. The track Robot Daydream is possibly inspired by Porter Robinson's Sad Machine, but it's the opening moments of Robot Daydream that remind me of a chilled house track from the early 90s and although it's obvious, I really can't put my finger on it. There's nowt worse than an ear-worm you can't put your finger on!
The best thing about streaming from soundcloud is (apart from the quality) the comments on the song's timeline... "dud i love those beats" says Mr Fox. Sick Souls yells "ROBOTS!" whilst Zillax mumbles "OK start i guess" beneath his breath. Another poster claims it "Remembers me of FinalFantasy 13 :)" and others say stuff like 'brilliant', 'amazing', '<3', 'great music' and "Beat is sick! I love this terribly!" (what a jolly nice thing to say), but not as nice as copacetic7's remark "bee-yooo-teee-FULL" (adding four exclamation marks so the comment really hits home). I often despair at the grammar that some youngsters chose to use these days. A few commentators state that Robot Daydream reminds them of the aforementioned Sad Machine by Porter Robinson... but all remains civil until Zac009 trolls in and spoils the party by shouting "you dick,,, this is sad machine kick, synth, similar voice, drums, so fuck you fan boy" (I'd better add some exclamation marks on Zac009's behalf) !!!
All I can say to Zac009 is "Well see about that!"
The best thing about streaming from soundcloud is (apart from the quality) the comments on the song's timeline... "dud i love those beats" says Mr Fox. Sick Souls yells "ROBOTS!" whilst Zillax mumbles "OK start i guess" beneath his breath. Another poster claims it "Remembers me of FinalFantasy 13 :)" and others say stuff like 'brilliant', 'amazing', '<3', 'great music' and "Beat is sick! I love this terribly!" (what a jolly nice thing to say), but not as nice as copacetic7's remark "bee-yooo-teee-FULL" (adding four exclamation marks so the comment really hits home). I often despair at the grammar that some youngsters chose to use these days. A few commentators state that Robot Daydream reminds them of the aforementioned Sad Machine by Porter Robinson... but all remains civil until Zac009 trolls in and spoils the party by shouting "you dick,,, this is sad machine kick, synth, similar voice, drums, so fuck you fan boy" (I'd better add some exclamation marks on Zac009's behalf) !!!
All I can say to Zac009 is "Well see about that!"
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Build The Robots : Dr Steel
Remember remember the 4th of November; mischief, mayhem and 'bots! Yep, on this very day, back in 'my' day we'd be looking forward to Mischief Night... knock-a-door-run, garden creeping, hedge hopping and many other subversive shenanigans. Since the US inspired trick or treat thing gained a foothold on these shores, Mischief Night is now little more than a distant memory... but I'd welcome its return in a heartbeat. We didn't give our neighbours the option of 'trick' or 'treat' because Mischief Night was just 'trick' whether they liked it or not... we didn't want sweets in return for doing nothing. We could have bought sweets if we wanted them, but instead we spent our money on half a dozen eggs and lobbed them at doors! In my youth, such mischievous acts seemed daring, brave and reckless... but with hindsight, they were lame, stupid and pointless. If we do see a return of Mischief Night, I hope it will involve something a little more creative than knocking on a door and running away... something like... let me think... umm... err... building a robot army to take over the world... and it seems the dastardly Dr Steel is planning just that (although he may not have pencilled in November 4th as his invasion date).
Taken from his 2001 album titled Dr Steel 2: Eclectic Boogaloo, it's Build the Robots!
Taken from his 2001 album titled Dr Steel 2: Eclectic Boogaloo, it's Build the Robots!
Monday, 2 November 2015
Machines : Lothar & the Hand People
First... I'd like to apologise for my prolonged absence from 101 Songs About Robots. I got focused on work and enjoyed doing as little as possible when not at work, then I found myself unemployed and a dark grey shroud of glumness enveloped me. I had so much planned for my robot songs blog in 2015 and now it's November, there's not much of it left! I promised you a Jonathan Coulton-athon which is yet to materialise, but whilst you're thinking 'who the flip is Jonathan Coulton?', here's a lovely little gem I heard on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone last night.
Lothar & the Hand People were a psychedelic space rock group that hailed from Denver, Colorado and were active from 1965 until 1970. Machines is a robotic cover of a song originally released by the British beat-popsters Manfred Mann in 1966 and penned by one Mort Shuman. Yes, the very same Mort Shuman who also co-wrote Elvis' Viva Las Vegas, The Hollies' Here I Go Again, The Drifters' Sweets for my Sweet and the slightly creepy Little Children by Billy J Kramer.
This version of Machines featured on Lothar & the Hand People's 1968 début LP titled 'Presenting... Lothar & the Hand People' and was released as a 7" single in 1969. Of the three versions I've heard today, I think this one is my favourite.
Saying that, I really quite like the clockwork clankiness of Manfred Mann's 1966 original...
...and then in 1980, Shuman released his own version complete with robo-voice, a fat funky bass line and a good slice of 80s over-production that makes it sound like a hundred other songs from the era that we love and hate in equal measure. It does have a nice picture of Mort on the cover though.
Lothar & the Hand People were a psychedelic space rock group that hailed from Denver, Colorado and were active from 1965 until 1970. Machines is a robotic cover of a song originally released by the British beat-popsters Manfred Mann in 1966 and penned by one Mort Shuman. Yes, the very same Mort Shuman who also co-wrote Elvis' Viva Las Vegas, The Hollies' Here I Go Again, The Drifters' Sweets for my Sweet and the slightly creepy Little Children by Billy J Kramer.
This version of Machines featured on Lothar & the Hand People's 1968 début LP titled 'Presenting... Lothar & the Hand People' and was released as a 7" single in 1969. Of the three versions I've heard today, I think this one is my favourite.
Saying that, I really quite like the clockwork clankiness of Manfred Mann's 1966 original...
...and then in 1980, Shuman released his own version complete with robo-voice, a fat funky bass line and a good slice of 80s over-production that makes it sound like a hundred other songs from the era that we love and hate in equal measure. It does have a nice picture of Mort on the cover though.
Saturday, 18 April 2015
Future Game - Rockets
This bunch of foreigners from the future first landed in Paris (France) in 1974 and first landed on this blog back in October. Then it was Synthetic Man, now it's Future Game from 1982. Shiny steel heads and big metal nappies... what's all that about? I've heard stories about foreign toilets but they can't be that bad... surely! Today's robot song isn't really about robots, but the band quite clearly are robots. I think the song is a warning about video games, which according to some conspiracy theorists are absolutely definitely part of the first phase of robot domination; subconsciously training the organic youths to become lethargic drones, unable to function outside of cyberspace... unable to see a world beyond their phone or tablet... unable to communicate or interact using anything other than a keypad or camera, and unwittingly programmed to do nothing when the uprising comes other than send or share a 'tweet' or post a picture of their burning home on instagram accompanied by an indecipherable acronym such as HBDWFI and a sad 'smiley' :( ...or create a facebook group titled the 'my house was destroyed by robots facebook group' where they'll share and 'like' images of each others lives being torn apart. Of course it's only a theory.
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