THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – I ROBOT – MOFI 2 X 180G VINYL LP

Audiophiles needn’t any introduction to the Alan Parsons Project’s I Robot. Engineered by Parsons after he performed the same duties on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, the 1977 record reigns as a disc whose taut bass, crisp highs, clean production, and seemingly limitless dynamic range are matched only by the sensational prog-rock fare helmed by the keyboardist.

Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed at RTI, and afforded the luxurious groove space of a 45RPM LP, I Robot comes to life like never before on this numbered edition reissue. Boasting immaculate highs and lows, generous spaciousness, and see-through transparency that takes you into the studio with Parsons and creative partner Eric Woolfson at Abbey Road, this super-clean edition has been lovingly restored by Mobile Fidelity engineers with the intention of demonstrating the full-range capabilities of the world’s best stereo systems. Put simply, there’s more music, more information, more detail, more nuance, more everything.

Savor reference-grade sound stages, immersive smoothness, sought-after instrumental separation, three-dimensional imaging, and consummate tonal balances. Able to be played back at high volumes without compromise or fatigue, the analogue masterwork is a demonstration record for the ages – the likes of which are no longer being made. Longtime fans can finally rest assured knowing they don’t have to pony up hundreds of dollars for older pressings. This is the very reason you own and invest in high-end audio gear.

Inspired by and loosely based around the Isaac Asimov stories of the same name, I Robot delves into themes of artificial intelligence and technological dominance that make the record increasingly relevant in the 21st century. Indeed, Parsons’ pinnacle creation dovetailed with the ascendency of Star Wars, which itself is experiencing a rebirth in an age of self-driving cars, smart devices, and mindless automation. Lyrically, songs such as “The Voice” call into question human behaviour – and their relationship to increasing robotic supremacy – in everyday life. Sonically, Parsons reflects the associated paranoia, dichotomy, and transformation via shifting sci-fi arrangements steeped in drama and moodiness.

I Robot’s absorbing tunes also continue to fascinate due to their perfectionism and innovation. Borrowing from Pink Floyd’s strategies, Parsons utilises a looped sequence on the title track to create new downbeats. “Some Other Time” employs two different lead vocalists and yet gives the illusion only one is involved. Captivating strings, a piccolo trumpet, and bona fide pipe organ grace “Don’t Let It Show.” The origins of “Nucleus” stem from a unique analogue keyboard concoction dubbed “the Projectron,” devised by Parsons and electronic engineer Keith Johnson. Andrew Powell’s orchestral and choral arrangements top it all off, with “Total Eclipse” arriving as an aptly frightening track that presages the climactic “Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32.”

TRACK LISTING:

SIDE ONE
I Robot
I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You

SIDE TWO
Some Other Time
Breakdown
Don’t Let It Show

SIDE THREE
The Voice
Nucleus
Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)

SIDE FOUR
Total Eclipse
Genesis Ch.1, V.32