BRAINSQUEEZED “I am not a Robot”

Self released, 2021

Music: Progressive Rock / Experiemental Rock
Website: http://www.brainsqueezed.com/
Duration: 49:18 (11 tracks)
Country: France, currently based out of Australia

Artists mature, and the way they evolve has always fascinated me. It comes with experience, yes – but some evolutions can also be influenced by an artist’s change in geographical location – I mean, the place they live. Sébastien Laloue, the brain behind the Progressive/Experimental Rock band Brainsqueezed, got me thinking if it can be a mix of everything – the evolution. As a French multi-instrumentalist, before recording “I am not a Robot”, he moved to Australia, and it is safe to say that it is here where the majority of the recording was done. If you compare this record with his previous one, “Scarred”, which I believe was released before his move, you’ll notice a lot of different things.

For starters, “I am not a Robot” is sonically multi-dimensional with a lot of different elements blended, and is also poetic in terms of the overall theme. We will tackle the lyrical part first. The idea is to have the 11 tracks on the album form a story that narrates how a Robot embarks on a mission to find its soul. This calls for an emotional record – which should start with euphoria as the fact that Robot even thinks about finding a soul is blissful. That’s why you’ll find a lot of elements in the album.

Among the 11 tracks, the stand-out track for me was the short and sweet “Taking Lives”. As a fan of Heavy Metal, this track appealed to me the most, thanks to the heavy riff at the beginning that blends into the main instrumentation perfectly. The deliverance was apt in a way that you won’t observe a distinction between different elements, even though they seem far apart in terms of sound. Not to forget the solo towards the end – the “wow factor” of the track, in my opinion.

Overall, “I am not a Robot” is one of those albums that will slowly but surely grow in you. Even if Progressive music isn’t your thing just because you find off-beat instrumentation and odd time signatures confusing, Brainsqueezed will change your mind, as the album itself features a lot of elements that make the genre more accessible. Really excited to see how the band will mature in coming years. Undoubtedly, Laloue will come back strong with another masterful blend. Until then, “I am not a Robot” is going to rule my playlist!

Tracklist:

1. More
2. My fears in the night
3. I will walk…again
4. Run
5. It tears me apart
6. Down under
7. Afraid of the dark
8. Dawn (Song for Richard Wright)
9. Taking Lives
10. Give up the fight
11. Black Summer 2019 – 2020

Line-up:

Sébastien Laloue – all instruments
Marcello Vieira – lead and backing vocals
Brandon Autry – guitars
Alex Paclin – harmonica
Hugo Lee – saxophone
Yoed Nir – strings performance/cello & string arrangement
Xana Chambers – backing vocals

Rate: 8.5/10