Enigmatic Sound Machines – Divided by One | Progressive Rock Central.com

Canadian, electronic, progressive rock, project Enigmatic Sound Machines are back, already, with their fourth studio album, “Divided by One.” The album was released on June 5, of this year on the Progrock.com’s Essentials label.

Enigmatic Sound Machines are made up of the founders: Jeremie Arrobas – who sings lead vocals, is a multi-instrumentalist, writer, composer, arranger, and producer, and he is also known as a founding member of Men Without Hats; and Thomas Szirmay, a musicologist, researcher, producer, arranger, and writer. The other members of the band include: Hansford Rowe, who plays bass guitar and sings backing vocals (known for his work with Gong); and Alain Bellaïche, who plays guitar and sings backing vocals (known for his work with Heldon). Well-known, Italian vocalist, Laura Piazzai, sings guest vocals on the song, “Inviolate Fields.”

The sound and style of the album is a little darker, heavier, and more cinematic, and fits into an hour-long record, blending retro electronic textures with heavy progressive rock. They even included a perfect cover of Gary Numan’s famous song, “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”

The album opens with the title track, “Divided by One.” The song opens with stellar drumming and ‘80s era electronic keyboards reminiscent of Depeche Mode, Eurhythmics, Gary Numan, Alan Psarsons, and Thomas Dolby. Jeremie Arrobas sings, “I heard a sound. I turned around I saw a gun. I saw a face. It was too late to say a prayer. Blood was running down my hands. I thought my world was going to end. Will it be my last breath.” Tough lyrics set to a magical keyboard beat and rhythm. The bass and lead guitar add pulse and magic to the soundscape. A wonderful trip back to music that filled discos and bars when I was young. Maybe the band is trying to bring back the lost art of dancing, to the masses.

“Chaos Dreaming,” sounds like a trip back to Peter Gabriel’s “Scratch” or “Melt” era albums. Quiet, mysterious keyboards, open the song, then great bass lunges and electric percussion. Jeremie Arrobas, on this one, sounds like Phil Ciollins, when he sings, “You are the light. You are the moon. You are the sun. You are the stars. The air I breath. The wind I feel. You are everything I know. Everything I touch is you. You are the reason why I am here. Chaos dreaming. Chaos dreaming in your eyes. You walk away. Far beyond the promised land. Behind horizons beyond imagination. Chaos dreaming in your eyes.” This is another stunning electronic masterpiece, that sounds like a love song. (Loved the “Air that I breathe,” Hollies’ reminder.)

“Siren Song,” opens with more cool, mysterious electronic keyboards sounds. Then, Jeremie Arrobas sings, “She’s calling me from deep below. Her song is such a deadly melody. Inside her voice is haunting me. I want to run but everything is sinking. The ocean has me dreaming. The moon inside my head is full.” He sounds so much like Peter Gabriel, on the albums I mentioned before. I really enjoyed that era of Peter Gabriel’s music, so I definitely like the similarities here. Very bold keyboards, finger snaping, and the all – manner of orchestrated rhythms and sound effects. Amazing.

“Pool of Mirrors,” opens with more cool, slow keyboard sounds. Drums and bass join in the soundscape. Jeremie Arrobas sings, “Silence holds so many words. Broken promises and hearts. So many lies so many tears. History tells what it wants. In the end you will believe. Distant memories of you. No matter what you say. No one will know. No one will ever know. Heaven seems so far away. Even angels lose their way. There is no light there is no sound. To guide you now.” A sad song full of regret for a lost future, with some great guitar playing later in the song.

“Heaven’s Rain,” opens with more cool keyboards, orchestration and slow electric guitar. The mood starts slow and builds. Jeremie Arrobas sings, “I never told you; life was an easy road to travel. I never told you; life would bring everything you wish for. I never met someone. Quite as beautiful as you. Heaven’s rain will fall. When you open up your heart. I see fire. Then I sit back and smile. Know you will be fine and free. It’s only heaven’s rain. Falling over the world. Falling over you.” A wonderful, soft love song; full of great music.

“Screaming Sound Machines,” opens with some more symphonic electric keyboards, bass, electric guitar and an that early Peter Gabriel era sound. Jeremie Arrobas sings about facing life, in this modern age. He sings, “I feel my soul is made of lead. Maybe alive surely dead. Once so pure now unsure. If you are the venom. I want no cure. Give me your pain one more stain. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I want to melt in your noise. Am I one of your toys. Ain’t that a shame. I want to sway in your voice. Don’t ask me why I feel your rhythm is a lie. Screaming sounds machines Screaming all the time.”

“Heavy Water,” opens with far off spacey sounds of keyboards; with guitar, piano and percussion in front of the soundscape, providing balance. The cool, meditative opening of this song is excellent. Jeremie Arrobas sings, as if he was Peter Gabriel back in the late 70s or early 80s., “I read your mind your darkest desires. I fear the seed is in place. Everything is on fire. You built a world you can destroy. A world that was provided. A world you took away. I need more time I need more time. Said the man to the void. Heavy water heavy water. I hear your voices. I hear your call. Heavy water heavy water. I hear and I feel we are close to the end.” There is a very “Not One of Us”/ “Intruder” feel to this one. But it feels more like a warning of a bleak future ahead.

“Inviolate Fields,” is an instrumental song without lyrics. It opens with soft piano like keyboard sounds and soft background orchestration. It is a close to ten-minute song, full of a wealth of keyboard and percussion sounds that completely fill the soundscape. Laura Piazzai sings, “In inviolate fields, I walk.” Then, she provides soft vocalizations throughout this dreamy electronic symphony of sound, space and imagination.

“Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” is the band’s cover of the Gary Numan classic. Jeremie Arrobas sings, “It’s cold outside. And the paint’s peeling off of my walls. There’s a man outside. In a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette. Now the light fades out. And I wonder what I’m doing in a room like this.” A wonderful rendition that celebrates this song about meeting strangers. Also, about not having fear to reach out to others, even those you do not know, when you are lonely. A request to communicate with others who seem like strangers, until we meet.

Enigmatic Sound Machines’ “Divided by One,” is a great change of pace from the typical modern progressive rock that is being produced globally. This music brings back sounds of the 1980s keyboard rhythms and soundscapes I remember as a kid. The Peter Gabriel memories were wonderful, and if you are a fan of any of the bands I mentioned, including Gary Numan, you should pick up this album and give it a listen. This band Enigmatic Sound Machines are on a roll with two great albums in a row. Can’t wait to hear what is next for them.

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