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Machine And The Synergetic Nuts (where do such names spring from?) are a Japanese quartet whose members have worked with the likes of Melt Banana, Ruins and Charles Hayward. First track M-B’s high energy delivery doesn’t pause for breath, but dashes from start to finish like a thoroughbred racehorse. The group play angular shapes at high-speed, there are sudden cuts to different tempos and Sudoh Toshiaki thrashes away at his drums like a trooper. For the briefest of seconds, second track Monaco hints that it might relax the pace but next moment the group are accelerating round that country’s grand prix circuit, sax and piano just managing to keep up with the rhythm section in a piece that recalls a souped-up mid-period Weather Report. Trout delivers a lovely, sun dappled melody over an enjoyably pin sharp stop/start rhythm – in fact there’s a very likeable sense of positive enthusiasm throughout. Music for putting a grin on your face and blowing the cobwebs from your ears.

Colin Buttimer

February 2005

Published by Jazzwise magazine