Bizzare Musik Machine- Bizzare Musik Machine

Perhaps a bit more coherent and organic than their moniker might suggest, San Antonio-based duo Bizarre Musik Machine's self-titled 8 song debut is a somewhat diverse set that revels in eccentricity without sacrificing musicality. Vocalist/keyboardist Yayumi's vocals seem to complement the music perfectly, whether melodic and emotive or sterile, robotic, and processed, while guitarist/programmer Gino provides the basic mechanical rhythmic framework for the material and then adds reverb-laden guitar melodies and swirling guitar washes. The resulting output nicely balances the emotional and serious with the delightfully quirky, adding an interesting interplay between the organic and the mechanical without ever really giving into or sacrificing either.

The duo's influences range from Bjork (most obvious on…err…"Obvious") to Severed Heads (apparent in the mechanical spoken vocals and plodding, quirky loops of "IndustRealise") to Cocteau Twins (see Gino's lush ethereal guitar work on "AWAKE") to The Cure (notable on…say…the moody "From the Heavens" or, conversely, the upbeat ethereal pop of "Silent Regrets"). Yet, despite sometimes wearing their influences on their sleeves…or perhaps as a result of that unusual combination of elements…Bizarre Musik Machine have crafted a unique and captivating musical formula, one whose elemental interplay can take the band from alternative pop territory through the lands of shoegazer, darkwave, ethereal, and industrial in the span of 35 minutes.

In the end, despite a fair amount of stylistic experimentation, Bizarre Musik Machine is a remarkably cohesive and sonically consistent album. Sometimes beautifully moody, sometimes cheerfully upbeat, and at other times a bit undecided, its target audience is likely to be as diverse as its stylistic range, with the album's appeal enhanced rather than hindered by the band's charmingly eclectic tendencies. Fans of inventive ethereal pop and semi-experimental 80s industrial/new wave, particularly fans of Come Visit the Big Bigot-era Severed Heads or Head Over Heels-era Cocteau Twins, should definitely give Bizarre Musik Machine a listen.