Luke Machin - Soulshine Jws Review PV062

Luke Machin – Soul shine Progressive Voyages Review PV062

Luke Machin is a Congleton Born resident, Musician who has, since his youth played his guitar in a unique way. Although right-handed he plays a left-handed guitar, which means he has had to adapt his thinking along with his approach to his instrument. I first saw Luke about 15 years ago at a pub gig with the then local High Peak area of Derbyshire based group The Tangent. Luke has recorded 6 albums with the Tangent, 2 albums with his group Machine along with albums by Damanek, and Kiama, and 3 Albums with Cyan , he has also recorded with Karnataka, Soulshine is his first full solo album. He was also part of Francis Dunnerry’s It Bites project.

He has played with Jeff Beck and Robert Plant during his time at the Brighton institute of music, he is also a member of the Chris Bevington Organisation with who he regularly plays live shows. Whilst only being 36 years of age, he has made a big impression on the world of music, mainly in Progressive Rock circles. Yet this album soul shine is far removed from that genre instead it is geared more in a soul, R & B and jazz funk direction, this is a genre Luke enjoys for himself and is quite a departure from what you would expect from him.

Even so this bold album is completely convincing and is extremely satisfying and well-conceived, well recorded and well produced by Luke himself. With a raft of excellent musical collaborators who Luke personally sought out to play parts on this album.

Luke has taken his time in making this album which has taken over 18 months to bring to fruition. The wait has definitely been worth the while.

This is above everything else an album of songs and stunning musical passages which encompass a wide variety of sounds styles and grooves.

First track Frequency is a brief instrumental piece with some great guitar chops on display. Energy is a very aptly named track, which has an almost Earth Wind And Fire type groove to it, it has a great bassline and very soulful vocals, this is sophisticated soul for today with a decent synthesiser backing and great backing vocals.

Soul shine continues in a lazy type groove, with Luke adding little guitar fills to the song which really has a great soul swing to it, I especially like the synthesized brass parts and the funky bass playing. It all sounds excellent and is very well done. Its a happy track and is definitely a grower. That Luke has chosen to make an album that is so different to his normal work is very bold and brave. He shows he can play in whatever style he chooses, equally well as this great song shows clearly and most admirably here.

Dive in is next which has bar sounds and the sound of someone diving into a pool, great sound effects and a great bass groove, think Cameo and you’re in the right vein. Again more intricate guitar lines are woven into this song. With great keyboard interplay and sounds, an incredible track by any standards.

Rise Up is next which has some great rhythmic guitar and strong female vocals, making this one very memorable indeed, more great bass lines its funky and danceable at the same time. This has a touch of the Chic Organisation in its sound which is a difficult sound to re- create so convincingly. That you could think this is the Mighty Chic is proof of Luke’s brilliance and his own taste. This track is outstanding, I totally love it, its brilliant Luke’s guitar here is spectacular and works well within the track.

We then have the albums 2nd longest track Parisian Rooftops which is over eleven and a half minutes in length, with a strong R&B sounding the opening part. This is an evolving track that has several sections and parts to it, all with a strong bass line and lots of synthesiser parts along with guitar fills from Lukes fine guitar, a fiery guitar part from Luke emerges at the 2:33 point for about 75 seconds where he plays a blinding synopsis of his playing styles, the track moves into an atmospheric section with piano and vocal and then bass playing, the song moves into an upbeat part with a funky sound and some funk guitar parts, and then into a duo between the guitar and vocals which copy each other in tandem, this is very impressive music very original and creative.

It shows just how talented Luke is, and how he is about the song that matters not just guitar shredding. I do like this wonderful song, it is an epic track in both style and execution.

Blossom is next and next this is a love song sung in a duet with the excellent Peter Jones, Luke’s band mate in Cyan and Sk’yne who has a splendid voice.

Next is another long track Wild Roses this one has a swing in its step for sure, very jazzy vocal and a strong bass prominent bass line, with guitar intersections and keyboards fills it’s a laid-back song that has a great style to it. This is highly imaginative and deserves a wide audience for its exceptional music taste and delivery. I doubt if you will hear such a carefully imagined and beautifully conceived album this year it is simply stunning in its conception and the finished article is a beautiful piece of work of which Luke should be mightily proud of.

This is definitely in the running for Album Of the Year for me, although I bet the brit awards committee are totally unaware of its existence at all, which is criminal as this deserves to be a massive album by any standards. This album is very life affirming and upbeat I feel honoured to have heard this glorious album for myself.

Track 9 is called Turn Around which is another gospel influenced track , which a great sound to it, all keyboards and bass and a full sound, it has an almost Caribbean style to it, I really like this song it sounds glorious, a graceful piano leads into some fine acoustic guitar runs, and an emotive vocal part, an upbeat section with a very fluid but short guitar line follows, giving way to an extended guitar part from Luke, to draw the track to a close.

Final song is called Final Boss this is the albums most rocky and normal in style track for Luke and he excels here on this piece of blinding virtuosic music, it’s an mostly instrumental track and it has lots of great parts from bass, keyboards, drums as well as from Luke himself, a deep piano part makes a strong impression here. As does a growling synthesiser line that interplay with the bass line, this has an almost Hip Hop vocal in places, it all sounds very good indeed,, Luke adds his own playing to the middle section of the track, and this impresses before a fretless bass line enters the sound, playing a delicate melody line, this then leads onto to some very jazzy keyboards and a saxophone part, which leads toward the closing part of the track and more jagged synths and draw this excellent track to it conclusion with a final guitar line from Luke.

In Conclusion this is a stunning brilliant album from Luke Machin, One that you need to hear for yourself it really is that good.

It is very different yet still accessible to Prog Fans as there is a whole range of skills on display to enjoy. Savour and appreciate.

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Author John Wenlock-Smith