Robots & Butterflies

Modern rock, like the kind that Robots and Butterflies have to offer, always receive a huge welcome from fans at music festivals like California’s Coachella and Milwaukee’s Summerfest. There is something about Robots and Butterflies music that gears audiences up to expect greater things to come into their lives. It’s as if their songs mark the start of something new and desirable about to happen. Their songs give the impression that a turn of events are about to occur, and the band certainly makes you want to believe in such possibilities. The quartet comes from Florida and they have released their EP The Library, which follows the band’s demo It’s A Secret. It is easy to relate their music to Paramore since Robots and Butterflies are fronted by female vocalist/keyboardist Abbie Cessna, but there is no confusing them for any other band. They have their own style while showing influences of modern rock bands, which puts them on the same team as Paramore but doing their own thing.

Tracks like “White Teens In Tight Jeans” and “All In“ erect energizing movements that are melodically coiled into tight knots as the guitar vibrations of Danny Lionheart, who also shares lead vocal duties with Abbie, phatten up the rhythmic plyometric jumps of bassist Adrian Gordon and drummer Chris Ballerano. The tracks have a dance-punk revelry that is reminiscent of the pop punk party vibe of Sugarcult with songs that people can jump into and come out feeling refreshed afterwards. The band’s lyrics also show a refreshing outlook about life like in the song “White Teens In Tight Jeans” with verses that provoke, “Go ahead pick up that six string / And sing some more sad songs / About a life you never lived / About a girl you never kissed.” Robots and Butterflies give the impression that they want their songs to lift audiences out heightens the senses as the track erupts into gang vocals with bulldozing handclaps in the center that induce a sing-along vitality. The band’s modern rock frequency is toned down a few notches on the comfy acoustic rock shading of “Vagrancy,” which is an excellent addition to the album. The band dabbles slightly in electronica music as digital phrases slink around the rhythmic rock struts lining “Out of Touch.” The track “Vagrancy” returns the album fully to a modern rock pitch with electronic granulars faintly nestled alongside the roaring guitar cuts and pulsating beats that brandish a pop punk meatiness.

Robots and Butterflies have been hopping across the country playing gigs, but between the shows, the quartet managed to find time to record The Library. Though the record has only 7 tracks, it makes a nice addition to rock libraries. The music is energizing and feels refreshing with lyrics that shake off the past and prompts people to start their lives anew. The record is bound to make audiences feel happy afterwards and ready to start life fresh.
- Susan Frances