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Rating: If you liked them in 2004 with the rather curious "Woodland Prattlers," with this "Creepy Tales For Freaky Children," these four crazy young Muscovites who go by the name Mechanical Poet, will really drive you crazy.
A bit of the band's history, I think it's a must: the group was formed in 2002 in Moscow and the current line-up is as follows:
Jerry Lenin – vocals
Lex Plotnikoff – guitars and keyboard
Serge Khlebnikoff – bass
Vladimir Ermakoff – drums
Musically, the ensemble presents us with a truly curious musical style, almost strange at times, crafting a genre that encompasses moments of hard rock/progressive to others almost jazzy, without ever giving up important gothic undertones that give the various compositions a slightly melancholic mood, which also reflects their passion (found in the lyrics of the songs) for noir cinema, dark comics, and a sense of dark humor, the latter of which marks their music, always light but upon which a sense of almost "malice" hovers.
The album in question is divided into twelve tracks plus another four in the Russian version (which I possess): the length of the compositions always falls within a medium/low range, making the album more pleasant and fluid and allowing the band not to get lost in sterile virtuosity, always remaining much more focused on the music, the real deal that matters: an example of this can be found in tracks like "Lamplighter" (track number 8) which, with its 4 minutes and 55 seconds, turns out to be one of the longest and contains a good number of virtuosities, but all serving the music and melody, the true focal point of the album. Also splendid in the track is the addition of a sax solo that enhances it.
Also worth mentioning is the second episode named “Urban Dreams” where you can notice excellent use of keyboards that give the composition an almost futuristic feel; another point of praise goes to the rhythmic section, present but never invasive, with prominent bass and a drum work that is praiseworthy, always very varied.
Very amusing “Dolly” which almost seems to be recited rather than sung and tells the story of a girl, Sally Hudson, who takes a little seven-year-old, Dolly, on a trip and doesn’t keep an eye on her because she's too old to waste time playing with dolls; I recommend taking a look at the lyrics of this song, they will help you understand how under a fine sense of humor there is a world that I would not hesitate to describe as monstrous.
Also to be listened to, for those who can, are the tracks in Russian, which are also present in English. Thanks to the use of the mother tongue, they are better, entering an almost folk dimension: the tracks in Russian are "Zhizn', Smert' I Vechnj Gorod", "Poslednji Fregat" and "Prizraki Starogo Teatra", which correspond respectively to "Vesperghosts Of Milford Playhouse" (introduced by a piece of traditional music), “The Afterguide” (the one most influenced by gothic undertones thanks to the keyboard parts) and “The Dead, The Living And The City”, also like the track previously mentioned endowed with a darker mood, all set in a softer dimension.
Listening to such work, although some may find it a bit challenging, is at least mandatory because, thanks to Mechanical Poet as well, progressive cannot be described as a stagnant and dead genre, revealing a fresh and original band that, from a compositional/technical standpoint, has nothing to envy from the most renowned progressive formations today.
One last thing, an additional point of interest is definitely the splendid booklet, once again designed by the genius of Lee Nicholson, which turns out to be an added value to this high-caliber work.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Bubble Bath (03:38)
Another day of shameful living's coming to an end Twelve hours of jests and hurting words that Mickey's used to stand A daily dose of cruel gibes, a sorrow's set in emerald eyes Who the hell needs such a being when the dying looks so nice? PLEASANT SMELL OF BUBBLE BATH SLOW, SLOW, SLOW, SLOW DOWN YOUR BREATH LET THE LIFE FLOW OUT OF VEINS DO YOU REALLY THINK IT'S GONNA EASE YOUR PAINS? A nagging hurt of dirty pranks is tearing her apart How could they all be so unkind and stab her in the heart? Sweet-scented foam is getting red while scarlet drops are dripping A final whiff of Mary Jane before a long and quiet sleeping "How could you be so unkind? How could you be so unkind? How could you all be so blind and make me live that way?!"
06 A Rose for Michelle (03:34)
A youthful fellow humbly came
Into a flower store
A present for a pretty girl
Is what he's looking for
He knows that she is wild about
Handsome yellow blooms
How many roses in the room...
"That's (a) good one," he presumes
A yellow rose for Michelle
A rose for Michelle
We disagreed but now it has no sense
A yellow rose for Michelle
A rose for Michelle
I know I'm wrong but give me one last chance
I'll never fail...
An undertaker's car has stopped
Beside a flower store
A bunch of roses for a girl
That died the night before
Her crying parents said
That she adored some yellow plants...
"There is a lot of stuff like that...
Let's but it all at once!"
A yellow rose for Michelle
A rose for Michelle
We disagreed but now it has no sense
A yellow rose for Michelle
A rose for Michelle
I know I'm wrong but give me one last chance
I'll never fail...
(x3)
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