Lonely Robot: Please Come Home

Don't be fooled by the band title, for Lonely Robot is actually the name of the first out and out solo offering from It Bites/Frost*/Arena/Kino man John Mitchell. His Please Come Home album a conceptual piece where a longing for companionship, or at least a more organic form of emotional contact than many daily routines really offer these days, illustrates where in this age of constant electronic communication, we are, arguably, losing the art of creating actual human connections.

Many, myself included, have noted a similarity in style between this album and Kino - and therefore to a lesser extent with Mitchell fronted It Bites; something none too surprising when you take into account how much of a writing force Mitchell was/is in those bands. However the concept employed here allows the singing guitarist to explore a slightly darker side than might be expected. That said, as ever, Mitchell and Lonely Robot always stay strictly on the accessible side of Prog, hooks and choruses far more prominent than any need to shout about unquestioned virtuosity. Please Come Home instead is an album of atmosphere and beauty, although the odd jagged edge of aggression also slips through. The best example of this is the track from which this project takes its name, "Lonely Robot" possibly the most overtly It Bites-like in structure, brash riffs and drums segueing into and out of chiming guitars and a live long in the memory chorus. While the wonderful duet, "Why Do We Stay", where Mitchell is joined by Heather Findlay, is a tender piece where a Peter Gabriel-Kate Bush feel is generated around dancing piano and melody.

Findlay isn't the only guest, with Steve Hogarth from Marillion providing - no not vocals! - piano on occasion, while the second female vocal appears courtesy of Touchstone's Kim Seviour on "Oubiette"; a song where keys combine with superb drumming from Craig Blundell. Seviour is on top form, utilising a deeper register than you might expect; losing none of her power in the process. However it is the way she and Mitchell (who while always disparaging towards his vocal abilities, is quite outstanding throughout) combine vocally which really makes this song as captivating as it is. However, possibly the biggest surprise arrives when Go West frontman Peter Cox appears to provide a superb vocal to "The Boy In The Radio". It's a wonderfully seductive piece of music but Cox nails the vocal 100%, adding a sharp edge through his immediately memorable contribution. In fact, I'd suggest that in terms of pitching and tone, Mitchell has used Cox as an inspiration for his own style… Amazingly 80s Pop is extremely well represented here, Cox joined by the ever in demand Nick Beggs and the ever under appreciated Nik Kershaw! Add in a guest slot from Jem Godfrey and really, while a true solo album, Please Come Home is a wonderful who's who of talent and diversity. More importantly it's a superb album, and dare I say it, possibly the best John Mitchell has had a hand in….

Track Listing
1. Airlock

2. God vs Man

3. The Boy In The Radio
4. Why Do We Stay?

5. Lonely Robot

6. A Godless Sea

7. Oubliette

8. Construct/Obstruct
9. Are We Copies?

10. Human Being

11. The Red Balloon

Added: May 7th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: John Mitchell on Facebook
Hits: 4346
Language: english

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