Additional Information

Translation from Swedish:

“Billy Corgan looks a bit like Klaus Kinski in Werner Hertzog’s Dracula movie “Nosferatu”, but without the rat teeth. He has got something demonic in his childish face that makes people uncomfortable and unsecure. He is simply exciting. And horribly talented. During their career he and the Pumpkins have achieved masterpieces such as “MC&IS” from -96, and two albums shortly following that masterpiece, “Siamese Dream” and “Adore”. This is something that could be very inhibitant. Something that doesn’t get better by the fact that SP in magazines gladly get mocked by critics. A band with that caliber only have to expose themselves the smallest bit to be hit by unscrupulous critics big sledge. “Machina” has in some ways done that. Totally undeserved. SP is still an interesting band. And “Machina” is a great album even compared to the band’s earlier achievments. You just have to let the songs sink in. Since with the Pumpkins you always seem to find more that it first appears.

Corgan’s squeezed voice and a homogenic soundscape – this time really striking again – darkens the fact that the songs separate pretty much. “Machina” is usually like an SP album, lots of melancholy and filled with angst, this time embedded in rumbling guitar riffs. Songs like “Glass And The Ghost Children” a wonderful paraphrase of old guitar rock in the spirit of Link Wray through Sonic Youth’s beautiful noise sculptures indicates the fact that it’s a matter of rock again for the Pumpkins. In the same way they experimented with other various genres. “With Every Light” is essentially not that far from the original soft folk-pop-ballades the bands other guitarist James Iha was doing on his solo album. Here we also find really bright lyrics to the extensive love of Jimmy Chamberlin’s jazz-like drumming. It’s an atmospheric, beautiful expanding song that behind pleasure is showing off some melancholy. “Machina” isn’t an album for a personwhois looking for hooks, handles and radio friendly refrains – an art that Corgan also control. “Machina” is an album to get lost and disappear into. The one that takes time listening shall be greatly rewarded.”