Secret Machines

Self-described space-rockers Secret Machines have earned themselves a significant following, including a few very high-profile fans: David Bowie, cited as the largest single influence on the band, has been praising them since 2004 (a bit of narcissism on the Thin White Duke's part, perhaps, given the band's aspirations). In 2007, U2's The Edge cited Now Here is Nowhere as the last album he loved.

Secret Machines were never shy about their ambitions, and they were undeterred by losing one of their founding members, guitarist/vocalist Ben Curtis, in between their last album and the new one–even when the subsequent shift in sound caused them to be shuffled away from Warner Bros. In Curtis's place is Phil Karnats, a one-time guitarist alongside Curtis in Tripping Daisy (a band that would also give birth to The Polyphonic Spree). The other member of the Curtis clan, singer/keyboardist/bassist Brandon, is still in the lineup, and so is drummer Josh Garza, who calls Secret Machines the record the band has "always wanted to make."

Opener "Atomic Heels" sets the mission statement with its glam-rock bombast, squealing guitars, and sheets of synthesizer noise. The rest of the eight-track album holds serve, with spacious tracks that hit six, seven and even eleven minutes; the latter track is the self-consciously epic "The Fire is Waiting," in which Curtis strikes some of his most overt Bowie poses while Garza and Karnats smash their way to post-rock crescendo after post-rock crescendo. It's loud and overwhelming, but overstays its welcome; the band shows their hand too early (right upfront, actually) and thus doesn’t give themselves much to build to. If they're interested in continuing along these lines, they’d be well-advised to study master builders like Explosions in the Sky or Mono.

Better yet, they'll realize that their strengths lay elsewhere, and not forget the pop prowess shown on tracks like "Now You're Gone." There are also twists of '80s synth-pop on "Underneath the Concrete," and, again, Secret Machines perform it competently, but it’s difficult to shake a feeling of fatigue that sets in. Secret Machines is sensory overload.

—Adam McKibbin
10.22.08

Between their last album -- 2006's Ten Silver Drops -- and 2008's Secret Machines, the Secret Machines lost vocalist and guitarist Ben Curtis and gained ex-Tripping Daisy guitarist Phil Karnats. The switch hasn't done much damage to their arena-friendly sound, as Karnats favors the same mix of heavy riffage and noodly psych and Brandon Curtis handles the vocals with back-row projection and gusto. This is good news for fans of Ten Silver Drops; anyone looking for a change may be disappointed. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide