myspace cadets: before machines0
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Steven Rainey of Alternative Ulster remarked on the local music forum Fastfude that “the music journalist is the ultimate fanboy” and I’m inclined to agree with him. After all, if you’re reviewing bands you truly despise day in day out, you’re probably in the wrong job. There’s always a band that you seem to love from first sight or first listen, and you try and keep up with them, extolling their praises. For me on the local scene, three bands fulfill that criteria: Heliopause, Two Door Cinema Club and When Pilots Eject. For Mark Dunn, creator of Gigging Northern Ireland, one of those bands is Before Machines. His glowing reviews of their EP launch and their most recent gig in Lavery’s Bunker makes my reviews look like they’ve been written by a cold hearted and bitter bastard.
Of course, it’s not all hyperbole. Edwin McFee (of Hotpress fame) and Will Johnson (best known for his work with BBC Across The Line) seem to be big fans and in fairness Before Machines have a great deal going for them. They’re the thinking man’s rock band. The lyrics contain words that often exceed four syllables, they can hold a decent melody and their concept of harmonies don’t consist of a band member shouting tunelessly over the lead vocals. Dan Larkin on drums is as important to the band as Sam Fogarino from Interpol: the constant complex rhythms make Before Machines one of those bands that grab your attention instead of lazing around in the background.
Andy Melville’s vocals are angsty and strong but have a slight air of vulnerability and emotion beneath them. In “There Was A Grand Alliance” we see the band at their best: a decent bassline that chugs along in the chorus, intriguing lyrics, surprisingly good harmonies and some excellent drumming, especially during the outro. Perhaps the comparisons to Biffy Clyro are a little easy to make but there’s a clear influence from the Scottish band upon Before Machines. However, at times they’re more like a darker version of now defunct local band Rivals (remember them?). “We Were Stayed”, the free download available from Secret Fireworks this week, is one of the more anthemic songs the band have released so far. Featuring a guitar riff that could have been plucked straight from Death Cab for Cutie’s first album and a reference to Newsnight (Newsnight! Seriously!) the band deliver a gritty, balls to the wall tune that short and not at all sweet. If I could make one point of criticism it would be the actual mix of the track: the vocals should be given a little more attention as they can be overshadowed by the sheer volume of the guitar. Imaginative, energetic and intelligent, Before Machines deserve the hype and then some.
Check out: We Were Stayed, There Was A Grand Alliance, The First Age
Download We Were Stayed (right click, save as)
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