First things first, I must confess a bias: I have a very warm, special place carved out in my heart and it's reserved for Secret Machines. Now Here Is Nowhere, the NYC-via-Dallas trio's 2004 album, remains a powerfully resonant collection, combining motorik beats and psychedelic segues, topped off with shimmery pop hooks. Take "First Wave Intact"—an album opener that burrows its way into your consciousness and manages to hold attention for the full nine minutes. Despite maintaining roughly the same drum beat throughout, it traverses so much ground that by the time it's finished you feel as if you've traveled to Jupiter and back. Secret Machines were defiantly and thrillingly out of step with the music of the day.
Advertisement
Advertisement