Tom: Well that’s an ungooglable name. It’s just going to show you steel machines.
Tim: Indeed, so hopefully I can give you the info you need: a new-ish Swedish act, and the track’s described as “a bitter sweet song about recalled memories and heartbreak”. Quick but obvious f-bomb in the middle, so proceed as appropriate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzUcR6jA0CU
Tim: Decidedly more bitter than sweet, that – I’d struggle to find any sweetness in there at all, really, aside from the (mildly believable) “I’m a laugh machine” lyrics. Interesting collection of machines to be, actually – as well as laugh, we’ve love, that and soul (though the tone of it kind of makes me want to add a -draining to that last one), all of which gives a rather curious insight into the relationship being discussed.
Tom: There are so many good things here. Absolutely cracking intro. Brilliant suddenly rising chords in the chorus. That middle eight is lovely. The vocal performance is excellent. Even the ending — which I initially thought was going to be a massive letdown — is recovered by a bit of synth twiddling. And yet, I don’t actually like the final product: it’s somehow less than the sum of its parts for me.
Tim: I’m feeling the same – in two minds about it, really. It’s obviously incredibly depressing and downbeat, but the production on it is really very good indeed, and I’ve happily pressed replay several times while listening. Hmm.
Tom: I want the instrumental of this, used as the backdrop to some nature documentary. I’m just not sure it’s a decent song on its own.