Maschine - The Bull's Head Congleton 5th April 2013
I have to admit, I was fairly apprehensive about this Maschine gig.
You see, I have known the band's guitarist, Congleton's very own, Luke Machin, for a number of years. In fact, I saw him back when he was playing with Chris Morgan, Andy Morgan, and Daniel Robinson, in Fire Garden, when they were still in High School. Even then, it was clear that Luke was an exceptional guitarist. Mind you, Fire Garden was quite an astonishing band. Both Chris and Andy Morgan have both gone on to become phenomenal musicians and I have followed their careers very closely. Luke moved away, after High School, to study in Brighton. Whilst I followed his progress, I have seen him only a couple of times in the last few years, but his adventures in Musicland have been worthy of note, make no mistake.
My unease with the Maschine gig was not so much concerned with Luke's talent or, the quality of his band or, the songs. It is more to do with my developing taste in music. Once upon a time, I discovered Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. I found prog. And, it was good. I still love prog now. But, I'm getting older and I find that 'new prog' ticks all the boxes but, I find some of it a little, er, how does one put this nicely? Let's go with: 'all fur coat and no knickers'. It is remarkably well played and musically outstanding but, to me, it lacks something that I can't even explain. It isn't rational. My parents put forth the same argument when I listened to ELP: “They're just showing off!” my mum would say. And, she was kind of right. Prog is a little about showing off how good you are. Anyone who disagrees is fooling themselves! You could level the same accusation at Classical, Jazz, and so on. That's not it. Maybe it is my age. I like what is familiar and what I know. I can appreciate the quality of the new stuff but, it doesn't make the hairs stand up like, say, listening to Gentle Giant's Three Friends.
You see, I have known the band's guitarist, Congleton's very own, Luke Machin, for a number of years. In fact, I saw him back when he was playing with Chris Morgan, Andy Morgan, and Daniel Robinson, in Fire Garden, when they were still in High School. Even then, it was clear that Luke was an exceptional guitarist. Mind you, Fire Garden was quite an astonishing band. Both Chris and Andy Morgan have both gone on to become phenomenal musicians and I have followed their careers very closely. Luke moved away, after High School, to study in Brighton. Whilst I followed his progress, I have seen him only a couple of times in the last few years, but his adventures in Musicland have been worthy of note, make no mistake.
My unease with the Maschine gig was not so much concerned with Luke's talent or, the quality of his band or, the songs. It is more to do with my developing taste in music. Once upon a time, I discovered Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. I found prog. And, it was good. I still love prog now. But, I'm getting older and I find that 'new prog' ticks all the boxes but, I find some of it a little, er, how does one put this nicely? Let's go with: 'all fur coat and no knickers'. It is remarkably well played and musically outstanding but, to me, it lacks something that I can't even explain. It isn't rational. My parents put forth the same argument when I listened to ELP: “They're just showing off!” my mum would say. And, she was kind of right. Prog is a little about showing off how good you are. Anyone who disagrees is fooling themselves! You could level the same accusation at Classical, Jazz, and so on. That's not it. Maybe it is my age. I like what is familiar and what I know. I can appreciate the quality of the new stuff but, it doesn't make the hairs stand up like, say, listening to Gentle Giant's Three Friends.
According to the Maschine Facebook page:
'Maschine is a group of musicians dedicated to making fresh, new music that pushes creative and technical limits and still satisfies the desire to produce beautiful songs.
Maschine are a young English, Progressive Rock band formed by Luke Machin at Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2008. Signed to the German Progressive Rock Label 'Inside Out', Maschine are amongst artists such as, Devin Townsend, Kings X, Steve Hackett, Transatlantic and Symphony X. Currently, Maschine are recording their debut album which is due for release early this summer.
Luke Machin (Front man) has worked and shared stages with, Francis Dunnery, Robert Plant, Bernie Marsden and Jeff Beck.
Influences include: Francis Dunnery, Pain of Salvation, Guthrie Govan, Dream Theater, Opeth System of a Down, Wes Montgomery, Ivo Papasov, John Mclaughlin'
Sounds fair enough and it's, actually, pretty impressive, I have to say.
'Maschine is a group of musicians dedicated to making fresh, new music that pushes creative and technical limits and still satisfies the desire to produce beautiful songs.
Maschine are a young English, Progressive Rock band formed by Luke Machin at Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2008. Signed to the German Progressive Rock Label 'Inside Out', Maschine are amongst artists such as, Devin Townsend, Kings X, Steve Hackett, Transatlantic and Symphony X. Currently, Maschine are recording their debut album which is due for release early this summer.
Luke Machin (Front man) has worked and shared stages with, Francis Dunnery, Robert Plant, Bernie Marsden and Jeff Beck.
Influences include: Francis Dunnery, Pain of Salvation, Guthrie Govan, Dream Theater, Opeth System of a Down, Wes Montgomery, Ivo Papasov, John Mclaughlin'
Sounds fair enough and it's, actually, pretty impressive, I have to say.
I was in, quite, an anti-Maschine frame of mind, If I'm being perfectly frank. I was thinking how to write a bad review without offending Luke. It's not that I'm a particularly nasty person, I suppose it is more because I've been going to gigs now for 35 years and I have learned to not get too hyped-up. It is easy to be disappointed by a live show but, marvellous to be surprised. I had, mentally, thrown down the gauntlet to Luke. In my mind, I was challenging him to impress me.
Did he?
I'll tell you next week...
Did he?
I'll tell you next week...
Only kidding!
By gig time, I was ambivalent about the whole affair. Get Carter was on the big TV in The Bull's Head and, having seen it so many times, I didn't need the audio. I knew the script. As Maschine readied themselves to play, I took up my place and prepared to be impressed.
On the whole, the set was what you would expect from a prog band: long songs and solos, weird time signatures, and odd key changes. The band's line up comprises Luke Machin on guitars and vocals, Daniel Mashal on bass and vocals, Georgia Lewis on keyboards and vocals, and Elliott Fuller, also on guitar.
From the beginning, it was clear that this band was, like Fire Garden had been, a group of excellent musicians. When you think about it, if you are as good as Luke, you have to seek out the best musicians around, otherwise you would never be able to play what you could play. It makes sense.
The first thing to get my attention was Dan Mashal on bass. Oh my. What a player!
Elliot Fuller has a tough job. Playing guitar in a band with young Mr Machin cannot be easy but, he manages to astound in his own right with some fine playing.
Drummer on the night was Doug Hamer. However, he is no longer in the band. Still, he deserves a mention as he played a blinder. During an old Fire Garden tune, Venga, even Chris Morgan admitted he played the drum part well. Praise indeed.
I cannot say too much about Georgia Lewis on keyboards. From my position, I couldn't, actually, see her. I could hear her, mind you, and she sounded pretty damn keyboard-wizardy to me.
By gig time, I was ambivalent about the whole affair. Get Carter was on the big TV in The Bull's Head and, having seen it so many times, I didn't need the audio. I knew the script. As Maschine readied themselves to play, I took up my place and prepared to be impressed.
On the whole, the set was what you would expect from a prog band: long songs and solos, weird time signatures, and odd key changes. The band's line up comprises Luke Machin on guitars and vocals, Daniel Mashal on bass and vocals, Georgia Lewis on keyboards and vocals, and Elliott Fuller, also on guitar.
From the beginning, it was clear that this band was, like Fire Garden had been, a group of excellent musicians. When you think about it, if you are as good as Luke, you have to seek out the best musicians around, otherwise you would never be able to play what you could play. It makes sense.
The first thing to get my attention was Dan Mashal on bass. Oh my. What a player!
Elliot Fuller has a tough job. Playing guitar in a band with young Mr Machin cannot be easy but, he manages to astound in his own right with some fine playing.
Drummer on the night was Doug Hamer. However, he is no longer in the band. Still, he deserves a mention as he played a blinder. During an old Fire Garden tune, Venga, even Chris Morgan admitted he played the drum part well. Praise indeed.
I cannot say too much about Georgia Lewis on keyboards. From my position, I couldn't, actually, see her. I could hear her, mind you, and she sounded pretty damn keyboard-wizardy to me.
I don't know the set list and most of the songs were unfamiliar to me (mostly, they were unreleased and original songs, from the forthcoming CD). Yeah, there was lots of standard prog posing and fretboard fingering but, oh my Me! They did it so well! You know what? They were really, really good. I mean, seriously, good. I was won over by the end of the first half of the set. I was more surprised than anyone, believe me. Not to mention, relieved. I'm not good at being 'nice'.
The thing that had concerned me most was that Maschine would turn out to be one of those annoying, clinical, antiseptic prog acts. Far from it. From all corners, there was feeling in the music, confidence in their abilities, and synergy in their playing.
Oh, and they rocked too! That surprised me most of all. I hadn't expected variety.
The thing that had concerned me most was that Maschine would turn out to be one of those annoying, clinical, antiseptic prog acts. Far from it. From all corners, there was feeling in the music, confidence in their abilities, and synergy in their playing.
Oh, and they rocked too! That surprised me most of all. I hadn't expected variety.
Prog rock may never have been the coolest, most popular or, sartorially elegant style of music but, if you love it, there's nothing quite like. If there is a place in the world for a prog band to be big again, Maschine deserves that shot as much as any band I can think of. I wish them well.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
9th April 2013
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
9th April 2013
