SCISSORGAMES

A new band in name only, GHOST OF THE MACHINE features the exiled members of the band This Winter Machine that sort of imploded after the "A Tower Of Clocks" album in 2019 leaving only lead vocalist Al Winter remaining who reformed the band and carried on. The members Graham Garbett (guitar, vocals), Mark Numan [ aka Mark Hagan] (piano, keyboards), Stuart McAuley (bass), Andy Milner (drums), and Scott Owens (guitar) decided to carry on without Winter leading me to believe that Winter owned the rights to the former band and perhaps wasn't an easy person to work with. Whatever the case this new incarnation of THE MACHINE released its debut SCISSORGAMES in 2022 and no it's not a rock opera about barbershops!

Basically the members of the old traded in Winter for vocalist / flautist Charlie Bramald who had only really engaged as a single with the pub band Harmony Spheres so for this talented singer who sounds a bit like IQ's Peter Nicholls, this is a debut album indeed and what a nice one it is. This album delivers a total of seven tracks that add up to 62 1/2 minutes and in many ways is a neo-prog album by the books with the classic swarming of airy guitar licks, powerful keyboard driven atmospheres and a heavier rock heft that many neo-prog bands have been adopting over the last couple of decades. The addition of the flute however gives this album a bit of a folk flavor and Moogs and mellotrons add a bit of retro flavor.

Beginning with the 17-minute plus "Scissors," GHOST OF THE MACHINE cuts to the chase by unleashing its most epic prog composition. The band immediately distinguishes itself as a unique entity in the neo-prog universe with an idiosyncratic fusion of stellar keyboard riffs, jangly guitar parts and an above competent vocal prowess of Bramald. The use of Pink Floydian space rock moments punctuate the lengthy journey as well as the folkiness of Mostly Autumn as well as the myriad neo-prog influences ranging from Fish-era Marillion to Arena, IQ, Pendragon, prog era Genesis and others. The heavier parts have been compared to Rush, Riverside and others.

Like all neo-prog bands GHOST OF THE MACHINE nurtures the strong melodic hooks that sing in deep and keep you fastened like a seatbelt for the hour plus journey. The band effortlessly stitches together the myriad musical motifs that alternate between space rock dreaminess to angsty guitar distortion led energetic outbursts. The album may recount some sort of concept based theme but i'm failing to discover what it could possibly be. On the band's Bandcamp page the album is described as exploring the tangled lines between love and abuse, an abstract but tangible theme i suppose.

For anyone looking for the next development in the neo-prog world, you won't find it with SCISSORGAMES. This is a classic sounding neo-prog album in the vein of IQ, and if you only listen superficially you might even think it was IQ! A more attentive listening experience will reveal differences though albeit more on the covert level. This is one of those albums that is excellent simply for its impeccable performances despite not registering high on the originality meter. One of the most pleasing aspects about this album is the production actually. Every sound is sparkling like a polished diamond with every tone and timbre fitted into its proper place in the greater order of things. While i wouldn't call this an all time classic by any means, it is a strong and competent debut album that excels on the quality level of the performances.