Machinista - Garmonbozia

If you were to take Machinista's "Xenoglossy" and add a few darker touches, a few more acoustic elements and guitars, you would be given the product that is "Garmonbozia". I don't mean to simplify the album so much, but for any fan of the Swedish synthpop duo, that's their latest album boiled down to a T. As slight as the transition may sound or seem, it speaks volumes when the music actually plays. 

Lindqwister's vocals haven't really changed much since the last album, although maturity in its own right is seen on certain songs such as "The Bombs". Rather than going for the higher pitched vocals that adorn tracks such as 'Picture Frame Eternity' or 'Battered', Lindqwister is able to put out more passionate and noteworthy vocal tension within the song. His voice also stands out on 'Ghost' and 'Brandbergen, Stockholm via Kalmar till Malmo'. 

On the musical side, which is Flow's domain, he has floored and astonished me on all parts. Shooting from the unique synthpop that has struck as Machinista's strong chord since the duo's start, he has developed a more diverse and strongly written set. Again, I would like to mention 'Brandbergen, Stockholm via Kalmar till Malmo' as one of the album's strongest songs on both vocal and musical fronts. This is probably as far from Machinista's standard sound that they've gone so far, but, by God, the slow electronics and acoustic melodies mingle oh so well. 

But, even when Flow is focusing more back on their already established synthpop base, he's able to kick it better than he was with "Xenoglossy". Songs from 'Picture Frame Eternity', to 'Surprised by Death', and 'Battered' are all lovely in their own right, and not a single song feels out of place. 

With their second outing, Machinista has been able to improve on most fronts. I do believe that if Lindqwister would be able to translate the vocal prowess he shows on 'Brandbergen, Stockholm via Kalmar till Malmo', 'The Bombs', and 'Ghost', than the album would improve just that much more. Nonetheless, this duo has managed to kick out another fantastic album that's worth any synthpop fan's time and attention. 
May 23 2015