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Machine Mass

Inti

Review by Gary Hill

This is quite an interesting album, but it’s not for everyone. People who enjoy Rock In Opposition are the most likely audience for this. I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of that kind of music, though, and this works well for me. It’s mostly instrumental (one song has vocals)) and feels quite freeform. It can be noisy, but it’s very much tied to jazz. It’s a great set however you slice it, though.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2014  Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Inti

This comes in gradually working to coalesce through mellow atmosphere and insistent percussion. Jazz elements rise above the top as it moves forward. This thing just keeps shifting and evolving. It’s very much a powerhouse jam that feels quite freeform. Every element, including the percussion, gets a chance to shine.

Centipede
I love the driving bass line that starts things here. The cut evolves from there in a rather noisy way. This feels even more freeform than the opener did and the guitar solos like crazy over this thing. Saxophone gets plenty of opportunity to scream out its passion, too. That bass is ever present as those other instruments get to show off.
Lloyd
This is somehow more accessible than a lot of the rest of the music here. It’s got a great jazz groove and some awesome instrumental work.
In a Silent Way
Indian styled music opens this one and evolves into a freeform jazz kind of sound. The drums really drive this, but otherwise it’s a mellower song than anything we’ve heard thus far. It has some great melody lines and work through some interesting shifts and changes.
A Sight
This is a powerhouse fusion jam that’s among the more accessible of the set. It gets into noisier, more rock oriented territory as it continues. There are some quite psychedelic guitar moments on this thing.
Utoma
Space rock, jazz and more merge on this tune. It’s one of the more effective numbers and has some particularly prominent drumming.
The Secret Place
This is a big change. It has a less freeform crazed musical tapestry. Additionally, it has vocals (Sarah Tewelde). It’s cool space music that remains somewhat mellow.
Elisabeth
Rather spacey and quite freeform, this jam is pretty crazy. A more rock element emerges later in the piece as the guitar comes up in the mix and gets noisy. This is quite an extended and dynamic piece of music. It’s a real powerhouse, too.
Voice
Another killer jam that sits along the line that separates progressive rock, fusion and Rock in Opposition, this is one of the more effective pieces here. It’s really great stuff and a great closer.

 

 
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