The God Machine- The Desert Song

Everyone remembers 'eureka!' moments; like the time you finally figured out how to do long division in maths class. Life is full of such moments, when a difficulty is surmounted and you finally 'get it'. Sometimes, we even get such 'eureka!' moments when something has not been playing on us, when we have not been experiencing any difficulty. We can be surprised by insights sometimes, as if someone has given us an unexpected gift.

When I first heard The God Machine's "The Desert Song' this was such a moment. The production is full of middle eastern influences that provoke the imagination, of incidental bits of music that push forward what music can achieve.

The desert is the location for the production of the three main monothesitic religions. One can imagine the wide open spaces, the sheer size of which is both intimidating and inspiring. Unlike city dwellers, it is impossible too become to wrapped up in your own circumstances as a desert rat. You are forced outward, needing to rely on your wits in an environment that is intoxicating.


This track intermingles such influences sonically by suggesting important influences like the music of prayer in mosques. Even the 'talking track' is subtle in its execution, referring to a theme of western philosophy since Descartes: "Why people are destroyed by lack of knowledge because doubt has rejected knowledge." This is music that really pushes the imagination in a creative and engaging way.

The desert is the home of the prophet.

Elliott Smith: The Basement on the Hill

This album I bought last Sunday and have been playing constantly every spare moment! It reminds me of two great albums. It is like The Beatles 'White Album' in that it mixes electric based songs with acoustic numbers. At any moment, 'Rocky Racoon' would fit in really nicely. It also reminds me of "One Last Laugh in a Place of Dying" by The God Machine. It has all the 'accidental' noises creating a beautiful atmosphere. The album sounds lived and real as a result and not too over produced.

The two stand out tracks for me are "Don't Go Down" and "A Fond Farewell." The first song starts with a brilliant two lines, "I met a girl..., snowball in hell. She was hard and as cracked as the liberty bell." What a great way to discribe someone without there being any trace of dishonesty! "A Fond Farewell" is an acoustic based song but really plays to Elliot Smith's major strength- his vocal melodies. They are somewhat surprising but always beautiful!

If you haven't already done so, check this album out!