Elegant Machinery – I (CD EP – Electro Shock Records)
Genre/Influences: Synth-pop.
Background/Info: Swedish electro-pop band Elegant Machinery became one of the most praised and famous bands in the genre during the 90s. They split at the end of the 90s, but came back to life around 2005-2006 to unleash a new full length “A Soft Exchange” in 2008 on Out Of Line. Again the band was put in standby and is now back again with this new EP, which is announced as the first of a trilogy. Elegant Machinery is still driven by Robert Enforsen, Lesly Bayne and the help of Jonas kröjtz (writing, mixing, mastering and production).
Content: Elegant Machinery remains faithful to their electro-pop sound, which now and then has been reinforced with somewhat EBM bass lines. The main strength of the songs remains the carrying choruses. Elegant Machinery remains catchy, but still powerful and always carried by the charismatic vocals of Robert Enforsen.
Some passages are pure vintage-like and one band, which comes into mind is Heaven 17 on “Wheels In Motion”.
+ + + : “I” sounds like a good-old EP featuring 4 different tracks. There’s not one single remix and that’s an approach I really like. The sound of this Swedish formation remains driven by the real true-old spirit of electro-pop with a few 80s elements on top. The vocals totally fit into the work and Enforsen hasn’t lost his magic effect. The opening song “I Say” is one of the most noticeable cuts, but I also like the last and sweeter song “Future Breakup”.
– – – : The comeback of Elegant Machinery is a damn good thing, but I still want more. The tracks are pretty short (all are just going over 3 minutes) and even if it concerns cool tracks there’s no real new mega-hit!
Conclusion: Elegant Machinery is already back on track and that’s great news. “I” is a cool return although not their best production ever.
Best songs: “I Say”, “Future Breakup”.
Rate: (7½).
Band: www.facebook.com/Elegant–Machinery-176101722542118
Label: www.facebook.com/pages/Electro–Shock–Records/105471026168220
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
