Flying Machine - Flying Machine

Flying Machine

​Flying Machine
self-released; 2016

4.0 out of 5

By Jamie Robash
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How often does it happen that you get a job and shortly after meet just enough like-minded people at said job to be able to set up a band? Well that’s precisely what happened when singer/guitarist Dan Johnson got a job at a local television station in Prince George, British Columbia. It was at this television station he met drummer Damian Meehan, bassist Michael Duncan and keyboard player Steven Cote and thus Flying Machine was formed.

Flying Machine spent their first summer as a band touring around their native city and chalked up a few battle of the bands awards to their credit. The money they made from these gigs went straight into the recording fund, which resulted in their self-titled debut EP Flying Machine, which they recorded in the studio live off the floor.

This last bit is important because it lends a certain feeling of being there. The instruments and the vocals have a very crisp sound to them, and listening to Flying Machine gives one the feeling that they are in the studio along with the band.

Flying Machine get things started out right with powerful opener “Burning Heart” which begins the foray into the high energy Americana that Flying Machine play. Johnson’s vocals are distinct, they are deep and succinct much like Jonathan Richmond’s.  But one can’t help but notice how well they pair with backing vocalist Erika Callewaert’s slight country twang. She helps to complement Johnson when needed like she does on the blues-y “Day Four.”
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The live feeling mentioned earlier is best on songs like raucous jam session “Process” and perhaps even more so on the supremely catchy “Flying Machine,” which whirls with heavy swells of keyboard and percussion banging, and the crisp slaps of bass line and searing guitar.
Flying Machine is a mighty tease of a debut, but the five songs are enough to leave you salivating for a future full length.

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