Ima Robot Forums

Logomag Review

draconian - 4-23-2004 at 03:02 PM

From LOGO-Magazine.com:


IMA Robot
"IMA Robot"
(Virgin)
Released: 19 April 2004

Artist Website
Label Website


Though California’s IMA Robot drink from the same watering hole frequented by the likes of Radio 4, Hot Hot Heat and stellastarr*, theirs is a strikingly different, refreshingly obtuse take on the increasingly generic punk/funk/disco template. This, perhaps, is due to the subliminal, chameleonic influence of Beck. IMA Robot formed in the late-90’s around a trio of ‘hyper-proficient, fashion forward rebel music makers’; nobody really heard them. Then ex-Beck sidesmen Joey Waronker (drums) and Justin Meldal-Johnson (bass) arrived; now everyone’s listening. Strangely though, the latecomers aren’t the focus; that honour goes to Alex Ebert’s voice, a hiccupping hybrid of Buddy Holly, Feargal Sharkey and Jonathan Richman that finds a mirror-image in the Nintendo-glam storm being kicked up behind him. This debut is could be labelled as wacky; in fact it’s off-kilter, irreverent and unbelievably addictive.

Suzie Q