Here Come The Robots! concludes John Irvine’s three-part sci-fi based concept albums which started with 2023’s Scanning The Dark Horizon, followed by The Starships Are Gathering in 2024. And in case you missed TPA’s reviews of parts one and two of John’s trilogy then here is a very brief recap. The scene for Scanning The Dark Horizon sees Earth ravaged by the effects of a total disregard for the environment, and along with frequent attacks from an ever-evolving alien species, it was time to leave for exoplanets new. Constant flooding meant most of Earth’s inhabitants were now confined to higher ground in the North and given the conditions, it was perhaps inevitable, power struggles were rife. This was the state of play for The Starships Are Gathering. Still with little hope for survival – should they have left, was there still time to leave?
All of which brings us to Here Come The Robots!, with the burning question – will the arrival of the robots be the planets saving grace? The expectation is positive:
“One happy day, not too far away, the Robots will come to our aid. The Robots will help, the Robots will build, the Robots will save what we have made.”
The above is text from a lengthy poem, know to all Earth’s children and printed within the album cover. John Irvine however eschews any spoken or sung narrative within the music, and it is once again left to the listener to draw their own conclusions. The epic opener, A Dream Of Utopia, with its light and airy synth top-line and deep resonant bass, suggests a much brighter outlook, reflecting the poem’s optimism.
Although those familiar with John Irvine will know of his incredible chops as a guitarist, it is increasingly the keyboards that dominate the sound across this trilogy. I made mention of Keith Emerson in my review of Scanning The Dark Horizon and Rick Wakeman in The Starships Are Gathering, and both I hear sporadically on Here Come The Robots!, however it is the presences of Vangelis that is perhaps most striking here. In fact, John has dedicated the album to Vangelis and his influence can certainly be detected within the synth sounds as well as some of the inner arrangements across this album. No better example of this can be found as track two, The Coexistence Of Opposites, unfolds. We are awash with ambient, spacey synths and sonic textures… The opening section allows time for the atmospherics before we move into more familiar progressive jazz-rock territory. An uplifting synth melody continues the brighter and optimistic outlook. Andrew Scott delivers his customary solid and expressive drumming which underpins John’s excellent chordal phrasing, reminding us of his undeniable guitar chops.
The title tune continues in a similar vein albeit in a heavier framework. A rich tapestry of keys, solid and busy drumming and nice to hear a ‘way too brief’ 😉 guitar solo from John.
The aforementioned Here Come The Robots! is one of the shorter tunes on the album and one that sees the robots busy at work – repairing and constructing. With the bleak and unhopeful storyline depicted in previous albums, the arrival of the robots has certainly created a mood of optimism as we enter the album’s concluding epic three part suite. The City Lights At Twilight opens with the reassuring sounds of pounding machinery and heard by the stories protagonist as he gazes through his high-rise apartment window. The lights are now one of his favourite pastime as he contemplates a brighter future. Musically, swelling strings portray his view before the now familiar introduction of infectious synth lines move the tale along. Following another brief solo from John we move into a sprawling industrial landscape portrayed by a steady driving rhythm, adorned by sympathetic keyboard sounds. With increasing intensity the mood is continued into Building The Geodesic Dome – the robots are nearing the completion of the all encompassing structure.
So as not to give the game away too early I omitted the full title of the concluding three pieces. Giving them their full title the final suite of tunes are prefixed with The End Of Days Suite and as might be gleaned mankind’s fate is sealed. The city lights are gone, darkness prevails; the geodesic dome, An Aerial Cage is a prison… And then with one almighty jolt Earth’s inhabitants are torn from the solar system and hurtled towards interstellar space.
With such a traumatic turnaround of events the music needs to be bold to fully capture the cataclysmic magnitude and betrayal of mankind. And it certainly is, the heaviest piece I’ve come across from JIB – with its thunderous driving guitar riffage, urgent rhythm section and a strong synth lead line topping it off. If I’m following the storyline, or merely making my own interpretation, then the more tranquil mid-section depicts the realisation of man’s endless travel through space and without sunlight time ceases to be of importance. The concluding part of the track twists and turns, initially manic and tortured, then the main theme returns, and so on…
Here Come The Robots! draws to a close John Irvine’s absorbing sci-fi journey and demonstrates the true craft of the man behind the project, and without inferring any lack of intrigue with the previous two albums, I would say that JIB has left the best till last, concluding on an absolute high.
Although not the same can be said of mankind… or so it would seem?
TRACK LISTING
01. A Dream Of Utopia (10:05)
02. The Coexistence Of Opposites (8:08)
03. Here Come The Robots! (3:49)
04. The End Of Days Suite:
– The City Lights At Twilight (5:57)
– Building The Geodesic Dome (3:32)
– An Aerial Cage (11:59)
Total Time – 45:30
MUSICIANS
John Irvine – Guitar, Keyboards, Bass
Andrew Scott – Drums
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Head In The Door Records
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 31st January 2025
LINKS
The John Irvine Band – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube
Andrew Scott – Facebook
