The Human Machine (Musea FGBG 4029.AR,CD) was produced by Mauro Di Donato of Ezra Winston, which is quite a surprise, as this is the complete antithesis of EW's elegance. This is pompous neo-prog at its worst; all of the elements of the neo style that bother me are here in full form - piercing digital keys, bad vocals (the female vocals are really hard to stomach), boring thud-thud rhythms and a very commercial styling (packaging and music). I hate to be too harsh on debuts but this is really pretty weak and was the album that convinced me not to take chances with new Musea bands. Say no more.
(Originally published in Exposé #3, p. 8, Edited for Gnosis 4/15/01)
