Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was released in 2002 and produced by S Booker, it was released through Time Warner and is 47 and a half minutes of surreal psychadelic pop fronted by the marvellous Wayne Coyne.

The Flaming Lips have always been an enjoyable band for me, at festivals I love the fact they dress up as Animals, it really makes me chuckle and always goes down well with the crowds. This album is possibly their most radio friendly following on from the critically acclaimed Soft Bulletin.

The album is a concept album...I think about our hero, Yoshimi a young girl who battles evil pink robots, the title track is the best on the album for me mixing a gentle bassline and beat with Coynes lovely vocals, its such a beautiful mellow tune I always turn to it when I need to relax. Other stand out tunes include the melodic flight Test which mixes folk and dance and the strange, 'Do you realize' which is a beautiful song...about death.

This reminds me of a fun version of Pink Floyd as the band come up with a lovely concept and let their imaginations run wild, if you remember Justin Timberlake dressed as a Dolphin on Top of the Pops playing bass on Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots this tells you all you need to know about the band and their willingness to mix it up.

Overall i'd give this album 4 out of 5, its my favourite Flaming Lips album, the above songs are my three favourites but 'Are you a hypnotist' and 'All we have is now' also stand out, beneath the concept is an amazing album and in the concept is a wonderous imagination which deserves wider exposure.

Track List:

Fight Test
One more robot/Sympathy 3000-21
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt 1
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt 2
In the Morning of the Magicians
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell
Are you a Hypnotist?
It's Summertime
Do you Realize?
All we have is now
Approaching Pavonia Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)

The album can be purchased on Amazon for £4.65, check out Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots for a taste of the album and then decide if you like it, if you do download the album, or buy it from Marketplace for less than £1.50.

This is a fun album which really does relax you and take you away to another time and place, its a throwback in many ways but is absolutely brilliant and well worth a listen.