Memories Of Machines

Supergroups. When a bunch of people from a selection of bands come together to create something new, it has the tendancy to produce something pretty epic. Audioslave, The Damned Things, even as far back as Cream, they get the hype thanks to the nature of their members being already being famous. Progressive rock has seen a multitude of these bands, and now Memories of Machines can be added to the list.
Started by Tim Bowness (No-Man) and Giancarlo Erra (Nosound), the debut album Warm Winter features appearances from such progressive titans as Peter Hammill of Van Der Graaf Generator, Robert Fripp from King Crimson, and Porcupine Tree’s Colin Edwin and Steven Wilson, who also produced the record.
With such a stellar line-up, it isn’t surprising how good this album sounds. A mellow affair, the album flows from soaring, thoughtful songs such as Before We Fall, through a barrage of experimental, ambient tracks with the beautiful Lucky You, Lucky Me exuding a hugely relaxing atmosphere, before giving way to the more powerful, though still soothing Change Me Once Again.
That the whole thing sounds different enough from the collaboraters original bands, so as to be classed as unique, is credit not only to the song writing ability of the main protagonists, but also to the influence of Steven Wilson, who is fast becoming one of the most ingenius and well respected musicians in the progressive music world, bringing his skills to the mixing desk.
What this concoction of brilliant progressive musicians equals is another brilliant prog album from a supergroup. It is almost not worth having single bands, when projects like this turn out so well.