Fables

• Artist: Immaculate Machine
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 11, 2007
• Total Time: 36:14
• Genre: Rock

Review

While Immaculate Machine struck a graceful balance between their lighter folk influences and tough rock guitar on their earlier sides, with their third album, 2007's Fables, the group has learned to bring its two sides together almost seamlessly. On Fables, Brooke Gallupe's scrappy, energetic guitar lines have calmed down just a bit without robbing them of their melodic drive or lift, and Luke Kozlowski's drumming has gained some muscle and dynamic presence that complements Gallupe's work nicely. Kathryn Calder's keyboards and vocals remain lovely and emotionally telling, and the group's songwriting has hit a new peak on Fables -- these are clever, whip-smart pop tunes performed with exemplary craft and a joy that keeps the slicker moments from ever sounding formulaic. Though the group and producers John Collins and David Carswell have brought in some ringers for these sessions -- string players, lots of backing harmonies, even a musical saw on one track -- the finished product still sounds admirably intimate and straightforward, and these stories have gained a greater level of emotional maturity without losing touch with the group's youthful spunk (dozens of bands have written songs about what a drag their nowhere home town is, but "Nothing Ever Happens" is one of the first to make it sound like they've learned to alchemize boredom into fun all by themselves). Fables is a richly enjoyable album from a band that continues to grow in exciting and pleasurable ways. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Jarhand	Kathryn Calder, Brooke Gallupe, Luke Kozlowski	Immaculate Machine	(3:27)
Dear Confessor	Brooke, Kathryn Calder, Brooke Gallupe, Luke Kozlowski	Immaculate Machine	(3:01)
Roman Statues	Brooke Gallupe, Luke Kozlowski, Kathryn Calder, Brooke	Immaculate Machine	(4:05)
Old Flame	Brooke, Brooke Gallupe, Kathryn Calder, Luke Kozlowski	Immaculate Machine	(4:32)
Small Talk	Luke Kozlowski, Kathryn Calder, Brooke, Brooke Gallupe	Immaculate Machine	(3:42)
Nothing Ever Happens	Brooke Gallupe, Kathryn Calder, Luke Kozlowski, Brooke	Immaculate Machine	(2:43)
Northeastern Wind	Brooke, Brooke Gallupe, Luke Kozlowski, Kathryn Calder	Immaculate Machine	(4:31)
C'mon Sea Legs	Luke Kozlowski, Brooke, Brooke Gallupe, Kathryn Calder	Immaculate Machine	(4:02)
Pocket	Kathryn Calder, Brooke Gallupe, Luke Kozlowski, Brooke	Immaculate Machine	(2:29)
Blinding Light	Brooke, Kathryn Calder, Luke Kozlowski, Brooke Gallupe	Immaculate Machine	(3:42)

Credits

David Carswell (Engineer), Leslie Rewaga (Vocals (Background)), John Collins (Audio Production), John Collins (Producer), Alex Kapranos & the Cribs (Vocals (Background)), Colin Stewart (Engineer), Luke Kozlowski (Group Member), Harris Newman (Mastering), Colin Stewart (Mixing), Owen Pallett (Strings), Paul Matthew (Audio Engineer), John Collins (Engineer), Caitlin Gallupe (Vocals (Background)), Owen Pallett (String Arrangements), Michael Olsen (Strings), Colin Stewart (Producer), John Collins (Synthesizer), Leslie Rewega (Vocals (Background)), Michael Olsen (String Arrangements), Paul Mathew (Engineer), Randy "Tex" Iwata (Layout Design), Brooke Gallupe (Group Member), David Carswell (Audio Production), David Carswell (Producer), Caitlin Gallupe (Artwork), John Collins (Percussion), Collin Stewart (Audio Production), Alex Kapranos (Vocals (Background)), Kathryn Calder (Group Member), Olivia Meek (Saw)