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Machine+ - Sketch My Apocalypse
Machine joined the forum some time ago and brought along a real nice musical project. It is completely unique in it's contrast of dynamics and overall sound, some lo-fi-in-a-good-way Indie drone folk centered around him and his guitar.
This was his first full length album and no doubt it establishes that unique sound I described very quickly. I'm sure machine can tell you more than I, but this is surely a project very special to it's Creator. It is personal, soul crushing, and all around a great showcase of emotions and music.
The opener is quick to get the drones going. Machine has since released another full length which is seen as an improvement in all aspects, but this album here shows the roots. The quality is nowhere near poor but does leave a lot to be desired. Twangs from the guitar and moments of incredibly high pitched piercing feedback are around, it doesn't detract from the music but gives it a "smaller" feeling then I might like. That's saying something though, even after it is still quite huge. The opener displays these very thick drones from the guitar and sparse vocals. Some really nice and subtle melodies can be found to, it's not just electric guitar nonsense, no way. Improv looks to play a large role but you can yell he had an idea for structure here.
The second track is the "heart" of the album and maybe the project entirely. Part drone colossus part Indie folk ballad, one hundred percent catharsis. There is more squealing feedback, but when they subside, something beautiful is left. There are certain sounds, textures and feelings I specifically enjoy in drone music, and this has it in abundance. It is a warm and inviting, thick, fuzzy blanket in the wintertime, rather than mechanical and sterile harshness. In all honesty this bleeding me away on my first listen. The guitar is still on display and Machine really has some drone chops. But we're treated with some more amazing melodies and riffs amidst the reverberations. This track dissolves into a catchy folk tune with ease, and back to the drone. The style here is really unique as I said before, and does a good job laying any sort of ground work.
The last two tracks feature a more diverse array of sounds to close things off. I can't make it all out but it's a psychedelic mish mash of clanky percussion and other nice stuff. The final track here is another guitar showcase, but rather than the massive drone from before, this is a soft yet very bizarre (and proficient) little outro. I don't know if this was written or improvised but I think its incredible either way.
It would've surely benefited from better production in terms of the sound and delivery, but the music here is something special, something made with a machine's love. Great things are definitely to come and I really believe he could be an amazingly renowned Singer songwriter with the niche he's developing.
7.5/10