The record, Secret Machines, comes out on October 14, 2008, in North America. Not sure about "overseas" releases.
It's far better than the 2/3 cringe-inducing Ten Leaden Drops and sounds more like the first record, Now Here Is Nowhere, which makes a person like me, who's been a fan since long before that first LP even came out, quite happy.
Still, the record is not great; it's instead pretty good. The opening track, "Atomic Heels," overcomes a stupidly bad, vintage Secret Machines title to be probably the strongest track on the record, and "The Walls Are Starting To Crack," I think, even features a sound collage of sorts. It is a slight progression for a band which clearly doesn't want to go anywhere, and for whom that's clearly not the worst thing in the world.
I am stunned, after several listens, at how Ben Curtis's departure had absolutely no audible impact on the band. Fucking weird. Like, this sounds like the exact same band...quite a shock for me, as I'd expected a wordless record of 15-minute, going-nowhere, psych-prog wank-a-thons to put "Daddy's In The Doldrums" to shame. A pleasant surprise, for sure; there are some vaguely jammy spots on the record, but they're rarely directionless. Some trimming could be done, sure (just like on nearly any record), but I'm not hearing anything at all crippling. The band is showing restraint and a firm grasp of how to build and release tension. Solid.
Oh, but I still really miss that old, soul-crushing drum sound. Nowhere to be found at the same levels as on the first record. Jesus, do I ever miss that throb...
