Born and bred in the wide open spaces of Texas, then relocating to a shared loft apartment in New York, Secret Machines deliver their third album ‘Ten Si*lver Drops’, which has that uncanny knack of managing to sound spacious & yet at the same time claustrophobic. The epic single ‘Alone, Jealous And Stoned’ opens the album, coming over like one of Mercury Rev’s outstanding moments, before erupting into a soaring psychedelic experience. The rolling drums of ‘All At Once (It’s Not Important)’, and the urgent strumming of ‘Lightning Blue Eyes’ have both got a certain Snow Patrol feel, which can only be a good thing. The progadelic ‘Daddy’s In The Doldrums’ builds like a Pink Floyd classic circa ‘Wish You Were Here’, layering sounds and intensity for the desired effect. While on the other hand ‘I Hate Pretending’ has got elements of the Syd Barrett years, including a bonkers ending. Last but certainly no means least, the closing ‘1,000 Seconds’ is a majestic LSD soaked wash of colour, that wouldn’t sound out of place on ‘Deserter’s Songs’, it’s simply magnificent. All in all ‘Ten Silver Drops’ is Secret Machines most accomplished album to date, 8 well thought out and carefully crafted songs, that should see them winning over the festival goers this summer.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: DEAN THATCHER
