Now Here Is Nowhere

The Secret Machines: Ben Curtis (vocals, guitar); Brandon Curtis (vocals, keyboards, bass); Josh Garza (drums).
Opening a debut album with a sprawling, nine-minute song may not seem like a good idea for most bands, but most bands aren't the Secret Machines. As their initial opus, "First Wave Intact," reveals, the trio--consisting of Josh Garza and brothers Brandon and Benjamin Curtis--deals largely in spacious guitar riffs, atmospheric keyboard lines, and precise rhythms, making lengthy tunes an ideal setting for their sound. Clearly, the group has a fondness for both early and latter-day Pink Floyd, but this is merely one musical touchstone for their sonic amalgam. "Sad and Lonely" moves to a dirty stomp that Marc Bolan would approve, while "The Leaves Are Gone" floats along on gentle vocals and dreamy melodies that recall Slowdive. With an expansive sound that incorporates everything from Beatlesque pop to avant-rock, the Secret Machines stand out among the bands of 2004 with NOW HERE IS NOWHERE.