This is a live concert CD. Putting out a live concert CD has two main benefits. No.1; it is a benefit for the band, for a live recording costs about 10 times less to produce than having to pay the exorbitant costs of going into a studio. And No. 2; it's a benefit for the fan or listener. For what a band can produce together on stage without the need for the effects and overdubs of a studio recording says a whole lot about the band. A live concert shows the band to be a band; it shows the quality of the musicianship of it's members, and their cohesiveness as a group. A live recording shows what music can be produced, as individual members play together to form the their music as a whole. In many ways a live concert or recording is the truest test of a bands quality.
The first song on the CD, and most likely the first song in the concert set is, "Welcome to the Machine," and what else would you expect from a band called The Machine!
I figured a cover band would be simply playing note for note rehash of what I've already heard countless times by the original artists. But I was pleasantly surprised. The first impression I got, was the quality of the keyboard and synthesizer layering, including some really really nice individual and unique touches. I'm not saying the keyboards sounded better than Rick Wrights, but they did sound fuller and somewhat more richly textured. Also the drumming seemed more robust, with nice individual riffs and fills, more energetic and less laxidazical than that of Nick Mason's post DSOTM playing. The David Gilmour vocals were quite good, if slightly higher in pitch.
Just as in the true Floyd, it is made up of four members: Joe Pascarell on guitars, Adam Price on bass, Todd Cohen on drums, and Neil Alexander on keyboards. They have been together since at least 1990. I have heard of many Pink Floyd cover bands over the past 10 or more years, a few (including The Machine) from the US, one from England and one from Australia, but this is the first time I've actually heard one.
or someone who has never seen or heard a Pink Floyd 'cover' band, listening to this CD was to be a new experience for me. The Machine is a band which came together solely to play Pink Floyd music, and purports to do it very well.
"Astronomy Domine" was next. When I think of a Pink Floyd cover band, I think them playing a set of redundant greatest hits. I am not expecting more obscure songs from old Floyd, especially Barrett era. Astronomy Domine was quite good and quite refreshing with many a new riff and interpretation of various segments.
"Echoes" is a 15 minute version and was somewhat note for note of the original Pink Floyd version, however again the keyboards in particular were great, but the lead guitar solo also shined. Though David Gilmour's style and musicianship is still in my opinion unequaled, this guitarist is no amateur. Though in a slightly different 'John McLaughlin' like style, he shows a virtuosity which was equally impressive.
"Echoes" segues right into "One of My Turns". The difference here from Pink Floyd is more noticeable. The instrumentation seemed more lackluster and the Roger Waters vocals, though a fair imitation were no comparison for the real thing.
But again the David Gilmour like vocals of "Young Lust," were superb as was the instrumentation. Then came one of Roger's first songs, "Let There Be More Light." It was done very well. The vocals sounded somewhat like Roger. However, the song seemed that it was played too fast. The instrumentation however was superb! It sounded like what the song may have sounded like if Roger had written it during the late 1970s, only with John McLaughlin style guitar.
A great version of "Money" with great vocals (much much better than Paul Carrack, but that wouldn't be too hard) and great David Gilmour instrumentals. It was a long almost 15 minute version, and contained some nice individual touches. With even an impromptu reggae "jammin" thrown in, this segues into what I thought at first was the old blues standby "Have You Ever Loved a Woman," but I soon found that it was the old Floyd song Seamus (The vocal here sounded nothing like Floyd in any respect). But it still was a nice rendition, with great blues honky-tonk piano. That segued back into "Money".
Have a Cigar was somewhat a note for note rendition but did have some nice and different lead guitar solo's and the David Gilmour vocals, again, were superb. This CD was recorded at a concert in New York City on November 27th, 1996. From the few pictures in the CD fold-out it looks like they had some nice lighting effects for the show as well. And at 71 minutes 38 seconds, you certainly get your money's worth.
All in all, for Pink Floyd collectors this CD is a unique and alternate Floydian experience. For a copy of the CD, contact t he band at PO Box 1046, Nyack, New York 10960 USA, or from their website at: http;//www.cris.com/~tmachine