The Secret Machines @ The Liquid Room, 28 Mar

In the midst of the ever-changing musical landscape, it can become difficult to produce a signature, unique sound. Inevitably, every act will draw comparisons and references to other acts in the musical canon. To their credit, the Secret Machines have been able to carve out a refreshing, new rock asthetic by doing their own homework. The Machines brought their groove to a jammed, appreciative venue with bombastic rhythm, spacey sonic psychadelia, and a clear focus of bridging each piece together into a complete orchestration. As the gig progressed, time travelling to the monstrous rock of Led Zeppelin and atmospherics of Pink Floyd ensued. However, throughout the ride, listeners were provided with a new interpretation of great '70s rock; full of fuzz-induced melodic sonics steeped in a powerful rhythm. Electrifying and energizing; I left the venue with the same post-gig tinnitus one experiences after any show worth its salt. [Dave Winter]