Tuesday 5 May 2020

Stone Machine Electric - Stone Machine Electric 7"


Labels: Self-Released
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 27 Mar 2020

Tracklist:

1. Walking Among The Blind
2. Mushroom Cloud

It's nearly midweek and I'm trying to chill this evening after a Discogs seller tried to bump up the price on a cd that I was interested in. What's the most you'd pay for a cdr demo? Answers in the comments section please. This has no baring on tonight's review albeit that Texan duo Stone Machine Electric plays stoner/doom and the change in pace is something I could really use right now. Stone Machine Electric have been pretty prolific since their formation in 2009, releasing three full-lengths, two EPs, two live albums and now this 7, which includes 'Walking Among The Blind' and Mushroom Cloud' (that both appeared on their very first demo, released in 2010). This EP celebrates their first show that took ten years ago.

This certainly is a change of pace for me. Recently, I’ve been covering a lot of post-hardcore and black metal seemingly, plus dealing with some people just trying to make a quick buck. Stone Machine Electric provide riffs for days on their self-titled 7” and it’s music to these ears, literally! ‘Walking Among The Blind” is an extremely groovy song that almost reaches seven-minutes, which means it probably takes up nearly a whole side of this EP. The riffs are huge, as is the rumbling bass and percussion. The vocals are hazy and lethargic but also melodic and audible. 

Second song ‘Mushroom Cloud’ also hits the same running time and has the title of being the very first song from the very first Stone Machine Electric release. I’m not sure if it’s been re-recorded for this release or not, but either way it’s a very palatable slab of experimental doom. That’s a very pedestrian way of saying it’s ace! Stone Machine Electric’s instrumental meanderings during the song’s lengthy mid-section work a treat, with some great bass effects going on. 

This is thoroughly worth checking out, if you’ve not heard of the band before. They’ve been playing stoner/doom now for about a decade and it’s easy to see why they’re still writing and performing it today. Instrumentally they’ve nailed it. Brining songs back to life ten years after they were originally recorded is tricky business, but thankfully it’s worked here.

You can stream the 7" below, where it's also available to grab as a name-your-price download and/or in glorious vinyl form:-



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