ILMX010 Domo Arigato, Mr Roboto is part 2 of the wonderful robot themed-series created for Illustrated Mixtape by Alex Riegert-Waters. A perfect counterweight to the dusty beginnings of our robotic friend (just between you and me, I think of him affectionately as Dex) in ILMX008 Forgotten Machines, Alex enables us to see the luminous new world that Dex finds himself in. Sublime illustration isn't it?
The first night of being is infused with fun and excitement in a world of colour and kitsch that's not too different from where we are today. Definitely not a dark, dystopian vision of the future. Dex engages with human and robots alike in the ways of fun - karaoke, group selfies, dinner and dancing. The title of this mixtape incidentally was inspired by the fact that I can't ever seem to type the word 'robot' without adding the extra o after it, so you know, the Styx reference was inevitable.
With electricity and curiosity running through his wires, Dex is set to explore the world with music from Lali Puna, Console, Kraftwerk, Qua, Vacationer and Paul White amongst others. The opener "14 Zero Zero" from Console (a side project for Martin Gretschmann from the band The Notwist) is just about one of my favourite synth pop songs ever. Yes, there are a few Germans in this mix. But also some Poms, Yanks and even an Aussie for good measure.
Illustration by Alex Riegert-Waters, words and mixtape by Leigh Tran. The diffusion of a brilliant white light coupled with the sweet innocence and charm of Dex's inquisitive expression is also too much for me to handle. Just gorgeous. i love the reinterpretation of the pedestrian traffic lights, and the variety of beings in this future not-that-far-off scenario.
To read the story and see the image in full, visit http://illustratedmixtape.com/2014/12/ilmx010-domo-arigato-mr-roboto/.
