Discover Do Not Machine’s new album, as successful as it is openly inspired by 90s music.
It is not this second album by Do Not Machine which will calm musical interest in the Angevins. Especially since exes of all kinds gather here: Alex (ex-Zenzile, ex-Glass), Ben (ex-Last Time Voodoo) and the Belin brothers, Camille and Etienne, known for Daria and LANE Joint story decided in 2018, the group itself has perfectly defined its line “between post-hardcore and melancholic atmospheres”. So, throughout the nine tracks of this Celebrations of the End, everything remains in balance between the grunge of Seattle and the British post-rock of Mogwai that DNM openly cites. The influences are therefore mainly drawn from the 90’s: Pearl Jam for “Feather” at the start of the record, the Thugs for “The Second Take”, Mudhoney in “Insomnia”, then Mogwai, therefore, in “Constellation” or “ A New Love Ends”, etc.
Without the markers being so obvious – or especially unique – for each title, of course. In addition, just “Portrait Line”, more ambient, would make us lose the reference points mentioned. We particularly like “Glass Kingdom”, especially because of the rhythm that runs throughout the verses, and “A Shelter on Demand” for its almost metal “chopper guitar”. Would Do Not Machine simply make grunge? But you don’t need a sticker on the cover to recognize a good album: the group, in pure local tradition, knows how to write songs, and is more interested in the tense atmosphere that it likes to create than looking for an artificial hit. One more point for hardcore Anjou.
Find this column on Do Not Machine in WECB l’Hebdo n°147, available via our online store.
Celebrations of the End is available
Here is the tracklist:
- Feather
- The Second Take
- Insomnia
- Constellation
- Portrait
- A New Love Ends
- Glass Kingdom
- A Shelter
- Waterfalls
