Album Review :: Man Without Machines :: The Kruezberg Press

MAN WITHOUT MACHINES

THE KRUEZBERG PRESS (Man Vs Man Records)

March 4

7/10


Words: David Beech




Forget your Biffy Clyro and your Frightened Rabbit, Dundee's Man Without Machines might just be the next big Scottish export to brighten the festival circuit this summer. Their début album 'The Kreuzberg Press' is comprised of 12 tracks of radio-friendly electro-pop that has been influenced by the likes of New Order and Human League.

There is a distinct political theme that runs through the album, from the title (a reference to an area of Berlin, famous for it's radical attitudes to art and music) down to lyrical musings on the Cold War in 'It's Closer' to the current banking crisis ('Share the Love'). With the political overtones coupled with influences such as the aforementioned, you could be forgiven for thinking that 'The Kreuzberg Press' would be a sombre affair. Instead, somehow Man Without Machines have managed to create an album which is one part politics, one part party.

The first single release from 'The Kreuzberg Press' was 'Something's Happening Here'; a track which sets aside the politics in favour of driving guitars which hark back to the early days of brit-pop. Having found itself airplay on the likes of BBC Scotland and 6Music, 'Something's Happening Here' could easily become a floor-filler in indie clubs nationwide.

The second single to be released and album opener, 'Even Still, Even Though', could be a synth-happy Vaccines, especially throughout the verses and is described by the band as being “essentially an electro pop ballad” that will no doubt become an opener at their live shows.

Perhaps the strongest song on the album is the upbeat 'Sound of Your Lies' which finds vocalist Adam Lockhart sounding similar to Stephen Malkmus of Pavement fame. The song is led by a playful synth loop that is juxtaposed brilliantly with the serious nature of the lyrics.

'The Kreuzberg Press' is an album that injects some colour in to an otherwise grey winter. Unfortunately, the seriousness of Lockhart's lyrics is lost amidst a sea of shiny synth loops and hard-hitting guitars. That said, however, this is a record that will have you tapping a foot or nodding your head before you even realise that you're doing it. There's a real party vibe to the music even if there is a message being put across. Who said politics can't be fun?