Machines Of Loving Grace - Another Great Gem (90's Era)

Machines of Loving Grace, hailed out of Arizona during its limited run from 1989 to 1997. A great deal of their work comprised of mixing, and creating industrial textures on with their first record, whereas their last two reworked that style within a palatable industrial alternative aspect in the 90s.

Released January 1st 1991

Machines Of Loving Grace I think lays in the allegorical lyrics of front man Scott Benzel. I have found many of the words play upon classic news stories, books, a smattering of common phrase cliche, and torrid darkness lurking in the recesses of the human mind.

When a person is first introduced there is the very pronounce bass, and guitar work of Stuart Kupers. I think the his effect is simple, catchy, and memorable. Yet at the other spectrum is the mastery of keyboard of Mike Fisher's technique, which can place familiarity outside of context.

Drummer Brad Kemp kept the beat together, I likened his work as a patchwork no frills approach. Get in and get it done. Though it may work on a industrial part, I feel it loses some luster after a few listens i.e. it is a foundation nothing more.

The music is constructed around a funky beat, and polished off with keyboard touches. Many of the songs have an overdubbed vibe. To really experience the full gamut one has to use headphones. It is a very tight vacuum of controlled chaos, while lauding itself in a pond of ethereal.

A minor lineup change for the last album Gilt introduces me to ex-Stabbing Westward drummer David Suycott, and soon to be 2wo/Halford bassist Ray Riendeau. These guys showcase a live execution with Gilt rather than all the studio wizardry of Concentration. The overall sound on this record is a complete 180 switch of what Concentration was, and I had a harder time adjusting to that when it was released. Some of my thinking often wondered why the dramatic shift.

Released Sept 21st 1993

Of the three records my favorite lay between Concentration and Gilt. I felt the 1st record Machines Of Loving Grace was rushed out before it was completed. Part of it stems from trying to cash in quickly on the industrial craze of the late 80's early 90's from groups like Nine Inch Nails, Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Pigface, Ministry, and KMFDM.

Don't get me wrong, these records have something going whereas their contemporaries were molding and shaping their own narratives without giving much thought to variance or cared enough about notoriety. 

I kind of felt those bands just did what they wanted, free of the constraints of exploitation, or expectation. Machines Of Loving Grace where their own thing entirely to a lessor degree. Another part is the philosophic tone of Frederick Nietzsche, and Gorgias. During the late 80's and early 90's industrial groups used these as themes and created Nihilistic expression.

Released Sept 19th 1995

Part of the allure for me was I was keenly aware of this construction. Many groups captured that intensity and channeled it into a creative outlet as a way to vent.

Some had great success, others did not fair so well. Machines Of Loving Grace is very distinguishable if one has a trained ear in seeking out the themes, tonality, lyrical concepts, and music created. Which brings me to clarify my thinking.

I personally believe Machines Of Loving Grace were a group lost in a decade of changing style, and a complete indifference to promotion from their label. I still feel Machines Of Loving Grace lay between obscurity, though they had a brief foray into motion picture exposure,  unfortunately they never could venturing out into wider recognition.

Finally, their entire body of work though short provides musicians the ability to evolve, and try their best to create something their fans can appreciate. Even with the dark themes still present on their final album, their 'supposed' next record would have been interesting. Alas I and other fans will not see this realized. I was one of those distant listeners whom really took to liking what they did. Thanks for reading.

B.