Album Review: Ben Ely - Goodbye Machine

After the initial adjustment of hearing the voice of Regurgitator, Pangaea and previous solo venture Radio 5, Ben Ely, the enjoyment of the stark and honest nature in Goodbye Machine is too good to deny.

Telling tales of social status, government standing and cultural progression, Ely has stripped each track to its absolute bare bones with live recordings and only an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, yet the creeping woe does little to deter from wonderful melodies with Idiot King and Beyond Gone. This departure from the previous sounds of Ely is instantly rich and engaging and one we can only hope he follows up.