This was one of those projects that I read about and immediately wanted to hear and was rather excited when I heard that the CD was on the way to me. Quite a few spins later and I am in no doubt that the debut album by Arjen Lucassen’s Guilt Machine is going to be one of those albums that I enjoy for years to come along with others by Ayreon and the ever expanding world of Arjen. This time around the maestro has gathered Jasper Steverlinck of Arid on lead vocals, Chris Maitland ex-Porcupine Tree on drums and old favourite Lori Linstruth ex Stream Of Passion on lead guitars. You are quickly thrust into a progressive master-class and a world with many emotions and stories running through it on this hour long album. ‘Twisted Coil’ starts with drums echoing like thunder in the background, a phone ringing and various voices. It is these voices that crop up through the album, often between tracks that are particularly interesting. They were submitted by fans from all around the world and talk about the person’s thoughts on guilt, regret, life, death and human nature, in other words its pretty deep stuff (man).
Once the music starts to flow it is gentle and lilting and the acoustic scope is full of rich melody, which is mellow and fragrant and draws you straight into its caressing folds. Vocals are spot on and accompany things fantastically, with Arjen occasionally on hand to offer his backing tones. I have never heard Arid before but Jaspers voice is anything but! Of course things pick up courtesy of a bristling keyboard passage and the drums join in more tempestuously as the track becomes heavier. It is after all almost 12 minutes long and there is plenty of time for this and indeed the albums other 5 tracks to develop. Musically this is not a million miles from Ayreon, you will on listening note certain nuances behind, guitars and keyboards and general musical structures that will have you smiling in recognition.
I’m not going to offer anything more on the way of spoilers about the lyrical insight, you should have a rough idea and it’s a pleasure reading along to things in the booklet as the story behind the music unfolds. There is a huge emotional force behind things here and I am reminded a bit of the last Anathema album ‘Fine Day To Exit’ in places partly due to the music and also from the narrative force, although it has to be said it’s not quite as sombre. To get the full weight of this wait for Jasper to hit the high vocal peaks on second number ‘Leland Street’ and shiver as the full effect runs up and down your spine.
I’m not the most prolifically versed aficionado of all things progressive, it’s a genre I dip in and out of but I know what I like and this is at the very top of its game as far as I am concerned. Although very modern I hear hints of everything from the obvious Porcupine Tree and Anathema to Floyd and even Genesis and Queen, though that last one I think is partly down to the more emotive notes hit by the vocals. This is another one of those discs that a track by track dissection is superfluous. Just be prepared to lock out the outside world before playing this and put an hour aside to treat yourself to an album that could well become a timeless classic. As far as I am concerned it already is.
Accompanied with a beautifully illustrated booklet with the artwork in shades of ‘Green and Cream’ as one of the tracks is also entitled, you can also get this in limited edition with a DVD including all the messages, radio edits and even a cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘The Stranger Song.’
http://www.arjenlucassen.com
http://www.myspace.com/guiltmachine
