Acid Archives: "Well-known cult band that needn't be explained here. Often referred to as "garage" although they were perhaps more of a cutting edge LA band like the Doors and Love, with music so unusual and ambitious that it sometimes sounds more like late 1970s post-punk than "60s".

The first LP is a mixed bag and can be avoided if you get the 45s instead; the second LP is a more consistent affair allowing you a peek inside the unusual creativity of Sean Bonniwell.

Still, I'm not a great fan of the band whose music often strikes me as overly intellectual and elaborate, but when they get it right the intensity is truly remarkable. Apart from the early 45s I think the tormented "I've Loved You" on the second LP and the rare non-LP 45 "You'll Love Me Again" are musts.

The wlp mono contains a unique rough mix of "Eagle Never Hunts The Fly" not available anywhere else; probably included by mistake instead of "Double Yellow Line", which is listed but not included. The old Rhino "Best Of" sampler has some rare tracks, but these are unfortunately mastered slightly off-speed. There is a more recent Sundazed sampler titled "Ignition" which has much of the same rarities. [PL]"

THE ABOVE REVIEW REFERS PRIMARILY TO THE WARNERS BROS. RELEASE (The Bonniwell Music Machine/1968), with additional comments referring to the so-called 'Very Best Of' CD issued by Original Sound/Collectables (1999).

Re-titled 'RESTORATION', the Warners Bros. album has been digitally re-mastered, and is available by Special Order only; contact seanb@mindspring.com for details.

Back in the days when the Music Machine was rehearsing in my garage (1965-66), when my single focus was material for the band, I owned a Sony reel-to-reel two track, which served my song writing well as I could overdub and 'bounce' until the basic tracks orbited Neptune.

I recorded most of the songs at 1 and 7/8 speed to save tape, regrettable, because it's taken years to find a reel-to-reel relic that plays at that speed -- and I have boxes of tapes with these demo songs clinging tenuously to that ancient medium.

These are songs written for the Machine that we never recorded--all in all about 40 worthy of arranging and recording in the style the band is known for.
I've been considering compiling these raw 'guitar and vocal' demos on a CD and calling it 'Internal Combustion' as all the songs were recorded on that Sony in my garage 35 years ago.

When I told Ron Edgar about the tunes he said something like, "We should record those songs for a new album before one of us falls like a bad tree."

Most of the songs have been transferred to digital, and are in the 'evaluation' process (sonic cleaning and tweaking). As no more than a handful of garage disciples will be interested in 'Internal Combustion', mass production isn't likely. However, limited copies of the album may be forthcoming (contingent on Special Order requests; contact seanbmm@yahoo.com for price and availability).