Short Reviews [This Winter Machine - 2021 - "Kites"]

After I reviewed their most recent album, ‘The Clockwork Man’, I said to Al that I had never actually heard their third album although I had reviewed the others, which is why I am now listening to this release from 2021. After their second album, 2019’s ‘A Tower of Clocks’, everyone in the band departed, leaving singer Al with the name and songs, so the only thing to do was bring in a new line-up which he did with the addition of Dave Close (bass, vocals), Simon D'Vali (guitar, vocals), Dom Bennison (guitar, vocals), and Alan Wilson (drums). He was unable to get the services of a keyboard player, so Pat Sanders (Drifting Sun) is on seven tracks, Mark Numan (who was in the band for the previous album) on one and Reuben Jones on two. Although there had been a dramatic shift in personnel, this is very much an album which follows the same vein as the previous one (and is also very much in keeping with the one which came later). Strong vocals, great melodies, nice guitar/keyboard interplay and foundation setting rhythm section and here is a 90’s neo band bringing back the days when we would go and see Galahad, Pendragon, Pallas, Credo, Jadis, Landmarq and the others (not as in your face as Shadowland, Mentaur or Threshold). It is difficult for me to move my memories of the scene away from the music as it is so very closely aligned indeed and there are times when Al’s emotion makes me think very strongly indeed of Mark Colton (the softer side, not the venom). This is music which is reflective, with plenty of space for everyone to shine, and they all take the opportunity to just that. This never feels like a “new” band but one which has been working together for a long time, and certainly never feels as if it has involved guests in the key role of keyboards which is an integral part of the whole album. It is difficult for me to gauge from the other side of the world just how This Winter Machine are viewed in the UK, but I know if I was still living there, I would be making every effort to attend their gigs as is melodic neo prog just like it used to be, and just how it should be in the current day. Nice.