Rock/Review Shapes - Planet Android
Toronto-based jam band Shapes reflect a shape-shifting, dynamic force that is carving an atmospheric path for themselves. Led by Bryan Silverberg (guitar) and Dave Hollingshead (keyboards), Shapes was born out of their mutual love for abstract ideas mixed with a deranged sense of humour. Notable for their constant touring presence and live gravitas, the group sees music as a form of escapism and a deeper, immersive experience worth inviting listeners and audience members into.
“Planet Android” by Shapes is an ambitious debut album that uses psychedelic grooves, expansive instrumentation, and an otherworldly narrative to examine one of the defining tensions of modern life: humanity’s growing dependence on technology and its increasingly distant relationship with nature. Hailing from Toronto, the jam band approaches the subject through an immersive musical journey rather than a straightforward statement, allowing the story to unfold across the album’s diverse sonic landscape.
The record moves between contrasting moods with a sense of cinematic progression. The dreamy textures of “Nature Girl” establish a more organic and atmospheric starting point, while the mechanized funk of the title track introduces a distinctly futuristic character. As the album develops, these opposing worlds begin to collide, reflecting the tension between natural experience and technological immersion.
One of the album’s greatest strengths is its willingness to explore ideas without sacrificing musicality. Shapes build extended grooves and layered instrumental passages that give the project the exploratory quality expected from a jam band, while the overarching concept provides a sense of direction. The psychedelic elements add unpredictability, creating moments that feel simultaneously inviting and slightly unsettling.
The cinematic finale, “The Showdown,” further reinforces the album’s narrative ambitions, bringing the journey toward a dramatic conclusion. Rather than presenting technology as simply good or bad, “Planet Android” seems more interested in what humanity risks losing when digital convenience begins to replace genuine connection with the natural world.
The accompanying “Village Sessions (Nighttime)” live video adds another dimension to the project. Following the daytime Part One, the nighttime performance presents the album in a darker and more atmospheric setting, demonstrating how its psychedelic and cinematic qualities translate into a live environment.
Ultimately, “Planet Android” is more than a collection of psychedelic rock and funk-inspired jams. Shapes have created a conceptual world where grooves become storytelling devices and atmosphere becomes part of the message. The album serves as both a warning and an invitation to reflect on modern society, reminding listeners that technological progress should not come at the cost of our connection to the world around us.