Friday 25/07/03 Secret Machines @ Camden Barfly, London

I've been pondering band names lately. Well, I say lately, I've only really been thinking about them during the interminably humid Northern line journeys I've been taking to get myself back and forth to Camden from Chez Matt. Band names are odd things, I find, and I should really try to avoid subterranean analyses of them. For example, Secret Machines, why are the machines so secretive? What's so secret about machinery anyway? Yes, these are the thoughts of your humble reviewer truly losing his mind while twisting through underground caverns on a tube train. I think I will stick to a nice book in the future, but that's beside the point, on to the show.

Secret Machines are a trio from New York City who originally hailed from Texas. Now, that fact alone sent my sanctimonious alarm bells ringing like wildfire. Scene-hoppers have always irked me somewhat, especially bands that gravitate from the middle of nowhere to the 'current big scene' just in time to end up on the obligatory compilation CD. However, I think that it would be unfair to tar these three boys with that brush, as their sound and style is completely at odds with the current en vogue in the Big Apple. I sincerely doubt that this trio gravitated to the bright lights to seek fame and fortune. This is a good thing indeed.

Sonically, Secret Machines occupy a fairly wide spectrum. At once lilting and melodic, almost poppy, then shifting to all out white noise overdrive. Musically and visually they are very good indeed, managing to find a nice balance between controlled ethereal melodies and crazy psych freak-out. In fact, the instrumental passages of their songs are fantastic. It is great to see a band that can control and shape instrumental breakdowns with such dexterity whilst keeping them within the context of the tunes. They have an excellent rhythmic thump as well, which does add a nice sense of tension to their overall performance.

The only marks against this band are the vocals. It is the vocal delivery and sound that distinctly recalls the Flaming Lips or Mercury Rev. Unfortunately, this style to my ears seems to detract from the otherwise fresh sounds the band are producing. Maybe it's just me, but I think the vocals don't really fit. If you're a big fan of the aforementioned bands, though, it could be right up your street.

With an EP entitled 'September 000' (Ace Fu) under their belts and the exposure that their UK mini-tour will generate, I'm sure it will not be long before Secret Machines return to this side of the Atlantic. If angular, rhythmic Indie-rock with a psychedelic twist sounds like your bag, you should definitely give them a look.