HUM MACHINE
Theorems and Compositions of the Last Action Rocker
(Cancer Records)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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Often times throughout Theorems and Compositions of the Last Action Rocker by Hum Machine comes the sense that things don't quite match. It's out of sync and ragged like a quickly arranged pick up basketball game between out of shape weekend warriors. "Remote From Below" is just a little too precious for the Neil Young-esque vocals and "Mechanical Devices" is too much elegiac pop perfection.

There are some interesting progressions like "Bring it on Pepyon" and "Laughing As You Cry" but most of the album comes off feeling quite deliberate and thoroughly unnatural. It is obvious that Hum Machine has a grasp of vision and talent, but making a great record still seems to elude them.

© 2004 - Erick Mertz