Going to the Future
Eureka Machines are undoubtedly one of the success stories of Pledge Music. After nearly calling it a day they opted to try the pledge route and it really paid off, resulting in the excellent third album Remain In Hope in 2013. Since then they have kept the momentum rolling and after another successful pledge campaign we are presented with album number four Brain Waves.
One of the stand out features of Eureka Machines albums is the production; they’ve really found a way to bring everything together so that it captures the energy of their live sound without losing any of the crispness that the studio brings. In the main this is a riotous and joyful romp that blends pop melodies with in your face guitars and well crafted harmonies. There are no weak moments but there are certainly some distinct highlights. Television and Sleep Deprivation sum up perfectly what Eureka Machines have been about for the last few years. Catchy riffs and sing along choruses are guaranteed and either track would fit snugly on any of the preceding albums.
The real highlight however is where the band move away from the norm slightly and throw in a few more minor chords to stunning effect. The back to back trio of The Golden Lonely, Vulture of the Culture and Neuro Bolero are just superb and really take it to a new level. When they follow this with the outstanding melancholy of I Miss You it's game over. A touch more mature in sound and a little more serious lyrically perhaps but retaining all the key elements and there are some absolute killer chord changes. Songwriter Chris Catalyst has excelled himself on this release, the strength of the material surpasses their previous efforts and you find yourself asking once again just why these guys aren’t massive?