Maschine's "Naturalis" is a refined and sophisticated choice with nary a note wrong that will have you ordering another round in no time. A gem.
The problem that often plagues most forms of prog is an extreme penchant for the self-indulgent; gorging on the unconventional like last-orders in an all-you-can-eat restaurant. Whether it’s playing with off-kilter time signatures, weaving exotic instruments into the fold or fifteen-minute-long jazz-inspired odysseys with an extended C# Hungarian minor oboe solo, it’s not exactly a genre best known for moderation. Whilst there is nothing inherently wrong with that – and some people make a very good living from it – it does indicate a reason why you won’t hear any of it bothering mainstream radio. So how do Brighton’s Maschine fit into all of this?