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The Secret Machines @ Thekla, Bristol, 15th February 2009

16th February, 2009 - Posted by jopabl -

The Thekla is a great venue. The staff are friendly and every time I’ve been there has been a good atmosphere. The Secret Machines opened with Dreaming of Dreaming and played songs from all three albums ending with a pounding version of First Wave Intact. As always there was no chat from the band and they were back-lit with bright white lights throughout the show. The only nod to stage theatricality being some intense strobe lights during the encore (can’t remember which song).

But the music was far from monochromatic. Sometimes they almost verge on kitch prog rock. But they never cross the line into bad taste, being rescued by tight drumming and some of the sweetest discordant harmonics that deserve the Krautrock lable / acolade. On the way out I bought a copy of the limited edition 12″ single Dreaming of Dreaming. It has a silk screen hand printed cover and is pressed in subtle multi-colour vinyl - what a great evening, it’s just like punk never happened.

Dreams | The Secret Machines