OLD TIME MACHINE play the Supermarket Wednesday (May 23). See listing. Rating: NNN
Ryan McNally and Kyle Cashen are Old Time Machine, a duo out of Whitehorse that combines vintage electronics with stringed acoustic instruments in an unusual mashup of folk, blues, oldies pop and lo-fi alternative.
On their self-titled debut, McNally sings lead and alternates between guitar, banjo and ukulele while Cashen provides reverb-drenched backup vocals, analog drum machines and pedal bass. Innovatively, both are in charge of various parts of the drum kit, which lends the recording a loose, organic groove.
Best is when the rhythm is tight and McNally explores his falsetto, like on Doin’ All I Can Do and closer Tearing Me Down, a catchy mix of gothic 60s folk and trip-hop. Unfortunately, vibe takes precedence over songcraft for much of the record, and the Tom Waits influence is too prominent.
Top track: Doin’ All I Can Do
