Words by Johnny, images: Band Media
Usually, I dissect each track in a review, this will be different, as the album needs to be seen as a whole, not just a selection of songs, and as a continuation of a story throughout each track. Enjoy.
2024 at Rebellion, I popped in to the Opera House stage, primarily for a chill, a quiet pint and to rest these old weary legs. Not knowing who was playing, I settled down in my reclined cinema micro-velour covered seat and awaited the band. On came 3 chaps with an opening intro of deep, dark, melodic almost gothic style guitar work, complimented exquisitely by an almost hypnotic bass line. Ears pricking up, I sit forward to listen what was happening.
More often than not on entering any stage at Rebellion, you are met with a wall of thunderous punk induced venom spitting out from the amps, this was completely different. There are many labels, genres or style of music we can label, Machiner are a band that appear to embrace many of those labels. Late 70’s early 80’s when the synth brigade took the musical world by storm, almost overnight, I was drawn to the hypnotic sound of the keyboards and what they could do. Many artists found their own niche, some failed, some made it.
Had Machiner been around at that time, they surely would have been up there with the best of them. This album, Motion Waves is a testament to almost 10 years of hard work the lads have put in to get it just right, and just right they did. It’s not a piece to listen to whilst say driving or to listen to as background music, this album needs to be listened and heard, eyes closed in a dark room, relaxed, in order to take in its feel, which it has in abundance.
Listening to it of the first time, sent me to a place of quietude surrounded only by the melodic and haunting vibes it gave off. Lyrically very dark, exploring one’s own mind, the writer clearly has put their feelings into each and every word, synching the individual lines to follow on perfectly with each, telling a story of intimate loss and gain through life and relationships.
I’ve never used this descriptive in anything I have written, but, at one point you can almost hear the sound of Gregorian chanting in the way the vocals are recorded and mixed, intertwined with Placeboesque crescendo, where one moment you are in the depths of synth and guitar harmony, the next a rising wave of beautiful dramatic guitar work, plateauing to a finish.
Ordinarily, I find bands play and sound better live, than they do on albums, so this is a bit of a quandary. Seeing them 2 years ago on stage, I recall thinking how they would sound on vinyl, and would they be able to give that deep atmospheric ambience with the stage lights and crowd, listening to Motion Waves, that thought was easily laid to rest. The production, mixing, recording and all the tech used to make this material has done what can only be described as an exceptional job well done.
Each band member has clearly learnt a craft to the highest of levels, instrumentally, perfectly attuned to one another, vocals are rarely able to swim along to the music to this degree. It would be easy to list the influences in this album, be it genre or other bands, one thing for certain is that Machiner have produced a worthy piece of music that has taken in a vast array of sounds, styles, thrown them into the melting pot and arrived at a place where that can call this this their own.
If you could see this music, it would be visually stunning, if you hear this music, listen to it fully, be drawn in and let it envelope you. This, is a great album.
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Machiner are: Paul McCarte-Vocals, guitars, keyboard, rhythm programming, orchestration, and field recordings. Nick Crozier-Guitar Eddie Rees-Bass and backing vocals
“Originating from Hartlepool, Machiner are known for creating massive, immersive atmospheres. They are a rising force in the North East alternative scene, often cited for taking traditional dark-scene styles into more experimental, rhythmic territories.” – Blaqkholesun Festival
Next gig October 10th The Studio, Hartlepool