A secret talent discovered

he first exposure much of the public had to the Secret Machines was when they were among the acts tapped for the Beatles cover album/film “Across the Universe.” Their contributions for that project included a cover of the immortal “I Am the Walrus” with Bono of U2.

However, they’re not just a Beatles cover band – they’re actually quite a good band. And their latest release, Secret Machines, matches their standard of excellence.

The album starts out fast and strong, with “Atomic Heels.” The feel of the instrumentation of the song is very much like that of Nine Inch Nails’ last few releases.

The beat and drum play of Josh Garza, as well as the bass and keyboard of Brandon Curtis, all have it to an extent, but this technicality really comes heavy from Phil Karnats’ guitarwork.

They manage this without seeming too derivative, though, and make the sound their own. To the casual listener, the similarity may not be easy to find – but the song’s quality will be.

The next song, “Last Believer, Drop Dead” is actually very similar in style, but a bit less Trent Reznor-esque. The chorus is the song’s strong point, as all of the band’s parts work together to make an impressive harmony, and the instrumental outro and guitar solo are similarly impressive.

The second half of the album is significantly different in tone, however. Songs like “The Walls Are Starting to Crack” and “The Fire is Waiting” invoke Pink Floyd or The Flaming Lips more than Nine Inch Nails, with less emphasis on heaviness and more on a psychedelic feel.

These tracks also feature much more free-flowing guitar and keyboards and more experimentation, including long jam sessions and solos.

The similarity comes out most in the guitar solo at the end of “Walls,” which sounds like it could have come from The Dark Side of the Moon.

Secret Machines is a very good album. The band shows off its versatility and skill in the shift from heaviness to 60’s psychedelia, and that versatility makes the album more interesting and better. In all phases, in any genre, the Secret Machines have succeeded in a quality release.