Newman
Elegance Machine

Newman is back with a new album, one that he describes as The Elegance Machine. That is an interesting title and the artwork looks good to me as well. According to the press information this album has been composed during a two year period and is described as adhering to what Newman usually stand for musically. A thing I note when looking at it all is how several of the songs are on the theme of greed and such things, I really hate greed and people whose only goal is to make more money no matter the cost.

Musically it doesn’t stray from what was shown on the previous album Siren, a logical follow up said the press sheet and that is certainly true. It is fairly heavy AOR with good drive and energy, catchy choruses and a really strong vocalist. Great production giving life to the songs that is easy to take in due to both the great song melodies and the catchy easily accessible choruses. It is a really well made album in any regard, though I don’t think you can describe it as inventive or something that will surprise anyone. Fans of Newman’s previous works will have no problem recognising it, it will sound very familiar to you – and not only because it is Steve Newman doing the vocals. The variation over the album is more or less what you can expect from an album in this genre and the playing time is kept in check. It is a well-made and well composed album, plain and simple.

There are many things to like about this album, it is good in any which way you want to look at it and I have a hard time finding any weaknesses in the delivery and the production. But I would want to see a bit of fresh thinking and something surprising that makes you stop and take notice – there is a risk that this album might be slightly overlooked as it is a bit predictable. The predecessor Siren was excellent and I think that this feels a little like the songs that were discarded in the making of that album are the songs that we find on this album, it is too similar and not as good as Siren.

I would certainly not call it a disappointing album; it is great in most regards. Still, I think you should expect more from such a great musician and composer as Steve Newman, in a way it feels lazy. Fans of Newman will probably find this album very agreeable but to me it doesn’t really take flight in the same manner as the predecessor did. I like it nonetheless and I also think that the title track along with Halo are two highlights that makes you consider a higher rating – even though it doesn’t quite reach that far when looking at the whole album. I think one could meanly describe it as extra material or outtakes from the previous album; I wouldn’t want to be that mean but the thought has crossed my mind. In the end though I think that this is a good album but that Siren would be a better (an probably cheaper) alternative that you will enjoy for a longer time.

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