SERENE MACHINES

Martin O'Cuthbert: Serene Machines / Space Will Weave Our Destiny
Esoteric Records (1978)

Textbook DIY single, from the wraparound photocopied sleeve to the home recorded wobbles and wonks within. Martin O'Cuthbert composed, performed and produced this E.P, the first of many, on a record label he set up to ensure his music could be heard. 

Martin saw Esoteric as 'An underground label offering an alternative to the total commercialism of the major record companies...a label which will become big in terms of imaginative music and resolute ideas, but not big in the sense of unfeeling disposable product attitude of the money orientated majors'. Mission accomplished, young man.

Both sides have a great deal of sparse charm, consisting only of Farfisa Organ, Electric Piano, some drums and various sparingly used electronic effects. The overall impression is of someone trying out a new keyboard, prodding at it and twiddling the knobs and being pleasantly surprised by the interesting noises it makes. Beyond the amateurish* and slightly one dimensional performance, however, is a wonderful sense of self-expression, underpinned  by a concept wrought from the pages of a dystopian novel or an episode of The Tomorrow People. As Martin types on the sleeve: 

'Serene Machines depicts the average complacent routine worker, content in his ways and totally oblivious to being a human 'cog' in an inhuman society. Sparse, laid back tranquil music to represent the sparse minds of the living automatons epitomized by the music'. 

Heavy stuff, appealingly presented. As one of those 'cogs', Martin, I'd just like to thank you for your thoughts and the new National Anthem.    

* Not an insult when it comes to music, where professionalism is hugely over-rated.