Machinista – Garmonbozia (CD Album – AnalogueTrash)
Genre/Influences: Synth-pop.
Content: It all started with the impressive “Xenoglossy”-full length, released by Juggernaut Music Group during 2014 revealing a few outstanding synth-pop songs like “Salvation” and “Arizona Lights”. The Swedish duo joined hands with the growing AnalogueTrash Records to unleash their new album.
“Garmonbozia” reveals similar synth-pop ingredients and a well-crafted work. John Lindqwister and Richard Flow both are experienced artists who perfectly know how to make good pop music. From the very first notes and arrangements you’ll notice this kind of typical ‘Swedish’ synth-pop sound reminding you of some of their most famous compatriots in the genre. “Dark Heart Of Me” is a well-crafted song revealing fine bleeping treatments and a somewhat new-wave like bass line. It’s a rather catchy song with some moody passages.
The next attention grabber is “The Bombs” for featuring guest vocals by Mårten Kellerman (Statemachine). The song has nothing in common with the power-pop of Statemachine, but seems to accentuate a kind of moody atmosphere running through most of the songs.
The 2nd part of the “Garmonbozia” reveals several different cool songs although I can’t say that there’s a new “Salvation” among the tracklist. I’m missing a kind of absolute ‘hit’ with a catchy climax although I fully enjoyed songs like “Battered” and “In Between And Above It All”. Both songs are totally danceable and accomplished with some nice vintage touch (especially at “Battered”). We here for sure get the best part of “Garmonbozia”.
I still have to mention the final song “Train”, which is an interesting one for the injection of guitar playing (by an artist called Judas) adding an extra moody element to the music. It all remains pretty pop-like, but it still adds an interesting indie flavor, which eventually can be a new path to explore.
Conclusion: While I became totally addicted to the “Xenoglossy”-album this new work reveals multiple cool songs, but no absolute highlights.
Best songs: “Battered”, “We Are Rockets”, “In Between And Above It All”, “Dark Heart Of Me”.
Rate: (DP:7)DP.
Band: www.machinistamusic.com / www.facebook.com/machinistamusic
Label: www.analoguetrash.co.uk / www.facebook.com/analoguetrashofficial
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
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.
