Brandon Curtis

Secret Machines Live w/ TK Webb

The new self-titled Secret Machines album is an absolute bombshell. Any hub-bub and mish-maw that was going around your friendly hipster wire about Benjamin Curtis' departure from the band is now clearly a 'we had nothing better to gossip about' scenario. Ben's interesting new outfit, School of Seven Bells, is definitely cool; we, the listeners, harbor no ill-feelings about the split up, especially considering what a knockout the new Secret Machines is. I had a chance to speak very briefly with Brandon Curtis the last time they were in Philly (seemingly, smack in the middle of working on the new disc). He said with confidence that even though prior Secret Machines efforts have indeed been collaborative in nature, Benjamin's flight has stylistically had no impact on the new music.

Listening to the final product, I have to agree. Which is why I love that they named it Secret Machines, because this disc has the quintessential Secret Machines sound. Which is to say that all of the elements we love about the best moments of their catalog (which is currently only two albums and two EPs deep) have been unified for a cohesive mission statment that definitely represents what they're all about. In case you haven't heard them yet, what they're all about is sweeping, grand mood-rock with a psychadelic edge--and definitely the hookiest prog sound in the business today. Masters of atmosphere, The Secret Machines do accessible, dynamic compositions incorporating lots of roaring symbols, mellow vocals, chunky electric bass riffs and space-rock guitar flourishes--all the while using their electronic goodies always to add and never to distract. If you like Porcupine Tree and Black Mountain, well then you're probably already well familiar with The Secret Machines... but if you aren't yet, holy shit these are exciting times...

The new album is a tiny bit darker and less poppy than Ten Silver Drops. A wee-bit heavier than the sonic peaks and valleys of Now Here is Nowhere. It has the same old fasts-and-slows of their previous work, but the slows are loud slows (i.e. the groovy Have I Run Out and the obvious new encore-closer, The Fire is Waiting--maybe the two best tracks on this space-rocker). Several tunes still demonstrate their pop senseability, like the lead single "Atomic Heels" as well as "Now Your Gone". Proggy goodness for you King Crimson fans is present in strength, especially on "The Walls are Starting to Crack". Anthem power aint lost either as demonstrated by "Last Believer, Drop Dead"--which starts with a drum beat very similar to their previous reigning star-spangled-banner "First Wave Intact" (which created a brief moment of confusion for a bunch of us at their last show, but the new arena-friendly gem quickly distinguishes itself as less shoegaze and more songwriting than it's predecessor).

The show is going to be stellar, it always is. Also, Marginal Minds icon troubador, TK Webb, who will be supporting The Secret Machines this Friday and in New York on Sat 10/18, Boston on Mon 10/20, Montreal on Tue 10/21, and Toronto Wed 10/22--has formed a band called TK Webb and the Visions. New band, new sound and quite frankly, it's really something to get excited about. Webb's caskett-aged accoustic grit-blues are (at least temporarily) on the kybosh in lieu of amplifiers and a Cracker, Brother Cane, Kenny Wayne Sheppard style take on loud classic rock--guitar solos and all! So if you're in Philly, NY, Montreal or Toronto, get those tickets because you're going to be in for a momentous night.

These are very exciting times!

Secret_Machines-Atomic_Heels.mp3

Secret Machines on:
Wikipedia
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World's Fair