The Second Mechanism is the second record from the Brighton, UK progressive rock and jazz quintet Diagonal (formerly a septet). I can see what Diagonal are doing here. They do it well too. Creating richly textured progressive rock that pays homage to Prog acts of 40-odd years ago, these five songs each travel a musical journey full of technical composition and proficient performances. The problem for me is that they are also devoid of any real emotion or sense of whole, despite throwing in the same twiddly 8-bit sounds at the beginning and end. It's like the difference between the teacher you had at school who droned on and on about the subject, and the one who took you outside that environment to teach with games and activities. With each song we get one passage after another of very well contrived musical lines that combine the repetition of krautrock with the meandering fluidity of jazz and metal. Guitar, bass, drums, keys/synth, sax and even some vocals all have a specific role to play that is precisely mapped out. They all get their turn to shine but there is no real sense of soul. Take the vocals in 'Hulks' – each note sung with equal measure and almost devoid of legato, making them sound clinical and emotionless as they bounce up and down almost for the sake of it rather than to create any sort of melody. For me music that is eclectic and erratic needs to feel spontaneous and alive – in the context of this record bands like Xenograft and Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving spring to mind. Tensions that are built over several bars give so much more than a series of phrases that set out to create a groove for a bar or two, throw in dead end to disrupt the flow then repeat, as so often happens in “The Second Mechanism”. Music can be clinical and repetitious while still engaging the listener with tension, power and emotion as bands like Heirs demonstrate. Unfortunately this record has all the emotion of a mother-in-law's kiss. Great musicianship, thoughtful and meticulous composition are in abundance here. Fans of the band and this sound will of course tell me that I've missed the point but that's not the case. I do understand, I just don't think it's that good. Review by "Gilbert Potts" (www.ghostcultmag.com).
RATING: 8 / 10
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