The God Machine.. The music world has lost some extremely talented people this year. None more so than Jimmy Fernandez, bass player with the God Machine. Jimmy was rushed to a hospital on May 20th this year suffering from a severe migraine, tragically he died of a brain tumour three days later. It was the worst blow possible for a band who had just reached their peak and recorded the follow up to the crittically aclaimed album, `Scenes from the second storey'.
The album has now been released with the title `One last laugh in a place of dying' (Unlike Hole's Live trough this' it is not an ironic title, it was named while Jimmy was in hospital). The album is their nemesis, even more developed and penetrating than their debut. Remaining bandmembers Robin Proper-Sheppard and Ronald Austin have decided not to tour with the album or continue with the God Machine: no singles will be released. This huge double album serves as a tribute to Jimmy Fernandez and a farewell to the God Machine. For fans of the band, this record will be the last memory of Jimmy. It is, to say the least, a spectacular 70 minutes of music. The God machine's fanbase is as hard to pin down as their music. Robin feels that their fans come from right across the board, although the band were never going to be understood by everyone. `The metalfans probably found our music a bit weird but our songs were probably too hard and emotional for regular cheesy indie fans', he explaines. At a God Machine show you would have probably have found a very mixed audience: `This also reflected in the kind of magazines we were reviewed in, lots of different types".
Robin and Austin are all too aware of how they were misunderstood as a band. This may be a factor in the sales in the new album, but for anyone who has ever enjoyed this band even to the smallest degree, it will be essential. I remember seeing the God Machine for the first time on The Beat and I didn't know what to think, this amazing monstrous noise like none I'd heard before. All I know is that it had a deep effect on me. Now, with a greater knowledge of the band, I see them as closer relations to classical music than metal, certainly in attitude and emotion if not exact in sound. The Melody Maker review of �ne last laugh..' also had an effect on me. The reviewer, Cathi Unsworth got two points wrong, the album was not recorded but written in Prague and the opening line is `Cut myself cause I can't see the beauty', and not `Cut myself so I can see the bleeding'. Overall though, it's a very poignant, fitting review. �ther than that it's a very touching review', agrees Robin. �t hits deep inside and shows a general understanding which not many people would be able to put better'. Cathi Unsworth also states that the God Machine surpass Soungarden, Smashing Pumpkins and Jane's addiction. This is hardly needed to be said, The God Machine were the greatest band ever to be described as `Metal' by a long chalk.
The God Machine took up residence together in a room in Camden after arriving from San Diego in 1990. From the release of their debut `Purity EP' it was obvious that this band had a unique sound, a unique way of expressing themselves through music which was both dark and pulsating. In February 1993, after releasing two more EP's their debut album surfaced. It achieved huge aclaims in all the right places, yet was misunderstood by many journalists. The band were repeatedly described as metal; Robin feels tnat this was the main problem the band had, and blames it on `lazy journalism'. Taking a closer look at the God Machine it's clear to see that they are as far removed from metal in attitude as say, `Heavenly'. The band has always been heavy and dark, but their songs have no guitarsolo's: they are most classical and cathartic:`We had a special sound which we used to express ourselves', explaines Robin. `The easy way out was to describe it as metal without delving deeper'. The well known single `Home' brought more aclaim for the band but also led to more misconceptions about their sound. Robin says that `Home' was -Not a very good representation of the band-. `It was very popular but brought a little bit of a reaction from us'. I asked Robin about Prague, did the city inspire his songs? �t inspired the way that we approached music. The enviroment and atmosphere influenced the songs, allthough there is no direct relationship. The energy out there had a dramatic effect on our music but there are no songs about Prague Square or anything'.
I have a theory that many great bands have the abillity to transport you to another place with their music, such as the emotion. The Velvet Underground did this, so does Nick Cave and so did the God Machine. In fact, the G.M.'s music was 100% emotion. � once wrote a song called `Meaningless', jokes Robin, `But we couldn't play it cause it didn't mean anything'. None of his songs couldn't be more emotional, full of personal politics more personal than anyone has produced before. `We weren't Rage against The Machine he informs me. Thank God for that.
Robin and Austin still live in London but this 'hangs in the balance'. They plan to travel and `live a little', Austin is going back to Prague to make a film. The two still have an interest in writing music, but will 'leave the bands untill later'. For now they have made a record with which they are very proud, a record to remember Jimmy with. They are also holding an exibition of his photo's in the near future. Jimmy Fernandez was a great bass-player with a great group. The God Machine were a band like no other.
Tom Cox