The Insufferable Paul Scott makes his new album a totally attractive and fascinating listen. Surrender To Robots, feels like poetic social and fantasy-world coming together, with the artist testing out different tones as he embodies certain characters.
His most visionary project to date, it consists of material only he could write, perform with a charm that only he could pull off. He veers from croons to falsetto, splicing together lyrics that blur the lines between hyper-realistic consciousness and interstellar escapism.
The music borrows from that mid-70s moment with most of the songs tripping and falling into memorable melodies especially on the track “They Grow Wild”, which turns into a steady effort with fantastic harmony work and an irresistible bassline. The results of this album will divide, delight, bemuse, and bewilder various factions of the golden-era, rock fan base, particularly disciples of The Beatles or Rolling Stones.
The album’s title is a fitting and this body of work feels a lot like gazing into the night sky. At first it’s completely overwhelming – you’ll be trying to connect the scattered dots on this initially impenetrable listen, and maybe even despairing when it doesn’t all come together. But the album is sure to reward deep-diving listeners – in particular those with an interest in picking apart dense and self-aware lyrics.
And if you want a perspective on what is undoubtedly the artist’s most intriguing record, “We Love You” is quite the listen and your ears will feel it’s well deserved and worth it. The Insufferable Paul Scott decides what he cares about and weaves it into his music. It’s not until you’re lured into his headspace that his poetry begins to align with your reality. And when the constellations show through, you’ll realize that the album is a product of searingly intelligent design and creativity.