Shapes – Planet Android

“Shapes turns a warning about our digital lives into a wild, psychedelic ride where every groove feels like it could break apart and become something completely new.”

Toronto-based jam band Shapes make a strong statement with Planet Android, an album that is ambitious in both sound and concept. Across eight tracks, the band explores technology, nature, human behaviour and the strange relationship people have developed with their devices. Rather than delivering that message through heavy-handed lyrics, Shapes lets the music build the world.

The album feels like stepping into an alternative universe. There is a clear story running through the record, but the music remains loose enough to breathe. Psychedelic rock, funk, jazz and blues constantly interact, creating a sound that can change direction without losing its identity. That unpredictability is one of the album’s biggest strengths. “Nature Girl” is a good entry point into the record. Its dreamy character gives the album a more organic feeling before the heavier ideas begin to take shape. There is a sense of openness in the track, almost like a reminder of what exists outside the digital world. It sets up the contrast that becomes important as the album progresses. Then comes “Planet Android,” where the band’s concept becomes much more obvious. The track carries a mechanical, funky energy that fits the album’s ideas about technology and dependence on devices. The groove keeps it fun, but there is something slightly unsettling underneath it. That balance between entertainment and warning works very well. “The Last Oasis” also deserves attention. It feels like one of those moments where the album’s larger story becomes more emotional. The record is not simply asking whether technology is good or bad. It is asking what happens when people become so connected to screens that they begin losing their connection to the world around them. The closing track, “The Showdown,” gives the album a cinematic finish. It feels like the final scene of a strange science-fiction film, bringing together the tension, humour and experimentation that Shapes have built throughout the record.

What makes Planet Android especially compelling is the band’s live mentality. Bryan Silverberg on guitar and Dave Hollingshead on keyboards lead a group that clearly understands improvisation. Their influences, from Frank Zappa and Phish to Funkadelic and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, can be felt in the willingness to stretch ideas and let songs develop naturally. Planet Android is not an album that sits comfortably inside one genre. It moves, twists and changes shape. More importantly, it gives the listener something to think about while still being genuinely enjoyable to hear. With its combination of strong musicianship, psychedelic experimentation and a timely concept, Shapes have created an album that feels both playful and purposeful. Planet Android asks where humanity is heading, but instead of preaching, the band invites us to get lost in the music and figure it out for ourselves.