Label: Insideout Music
Release date: August 26, 2022
Production: John Mitchell
Album length: 53:48 min.
Genre: Progressive Rock
Rating: 8.0/10
John Mitchell probably never expected his solo project Lonely Robot to last more than one album, two at the very most, when he started it. »A Model Life« is already his fifth outing under the Lonely Robot banner and, in many ways, a continuation of the stylistic approach of the previous four albums, which means modern prog rock with touches of art rock, pop rock and space rock dominates.
The seasoned guitarist, singer and producer, still best known as a member of the cult neo-prog outfit Arena, even though his colorful career has also included work with the late John Wetton, now wants to show us his exemplary professional and private life as a diligent English taxpayer who helps old ladies across the crosswalk every day and regularly donates money to feed the hungry in Africa.
In keeping with the Lonely Robot tradition, John’s lyrics take aim at unchecked digitalization and the creeping robotization of society, where even the bleakest sci-fi visions are more and more becoming our reality. But you can tell the guy is getting close to the big five-oh, because more and more personal lyrics are creeping in here and there, mostly about his family. That’s what the album title and the title track are about, as is »The Island of Misfit Toys«, for which he shot a promo video together with his daughter. The occasional over-the-top sentimentality that marks certain songs on this distinctly melancholic album will probably get on some people’s nerves, but unlike some of Mitchell’s American peers (looking at you, Neal Morse), it never turns corny.
Still, John isn’t some old fogey who, like certain aging rock ‘legends with issues’, has started playing what millennials and zoomers dismissively call ‘dad rock’. His music is still interesting to all fans of melodic modern prog and to anyone who rates bands like Frost*, RPWL and Sylvain, to name just a few who aren’t embarrassed to admit that quality eighties pop rock had some influence on them. The music of Lonely Robot continues to be a close cousin of what Mitchell does as a member of Frost* and Kino, and of what he has recorded so far as a member of the cult band It Bites.
There aren’t many punchy, energetic numbers on »A Model Life« that skip the melancholic sentimentality, but a few do turn up. The opener »Recalibrating«, which at times recalls modern-day It Bites in its structure, belongs in that camp, and so does the excellent »Starlit Stardust«, which also features a vocal performance from Mitchell that deserves praise. John also played all the keyboard arrangements and bass lines himself and spread them across the individual tracks in a solid way. Among the album’s best moments is definitely »Digital God Machine«, which is just accessible and complex enough for all the harmonies to flow into one another satisfyingly.
Anyone expecting a drastic stylistic shift or some experimenting on »A Model Life«, let alone improvisation, will be disappointed fast. On the other hand, Mitchell’s guitar artistry, like the fantastic, almost epic solos on the very solid »Species In Tranistion« and »Rain Kings«, is still thrilling, while John’s considerable vocal kinship with Peter Gabriel gives it that cozy (neo-)prog familiarity. His partnership with the mighty drummer Craig Blundell also still works a treat, though his relatively ‘restrained’ playing won’t exactly thrill fans of more technically minded prog.
With »A Model Life«, Mr. Mitchell has made a good album, but for his rich musical career it’s nothing special, let alone an innovative feat. As a whole, the new album is very solid, but a bit weaker than its excellent predecessor »Feelings Are Good« (2020, RockLine review), which had more interesting moments and was a step up from some of Lonely Robot’s earlier efforts. The main and only flaw of »A Model Life« is that overall it comes across as a little too predictable and not exciting enough, though never boring, and that’s mostly thanks to John’s varied guitar wizardry.
Author: Peter “Dr. ProgRock” Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. Recalibrating (5:02)
2. Digital God Machine (6:08)
3. Species in Transition (6:19)
4. Starlit Stardust (5:48)
5. The Island of Misfit Toys (4:18)
6. A Model Life (5:27)
7. Mandalay (1:56)
8. Rain Kings (6:33)
9. Duty of Care (6:24)
10. In Memoriam (5:53)
Lineup:
John Mitchell – vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Craig Blundell – drums
Special guest:
Sarah Lambert-Gates – backing vocals
