Zeitkratzer - Metal Machine Music

Metal Machine Music? Actually, it's more "European Son" or "I Heard Her Call My Name," a frozen moment from either (or some other) plucked off the stereo and dangled in perpetuity for as long as anyone will listen. But, if you think the Metal Machine double album was unlistenable, the sound of one man and his electronic noise box, then the live performance will drive you to distraction, because there are 13 of them up there making the noise, and though Lou Reed and Mike Rathke are certainly among them -- well, like the original album, you'd scarcely know it from listening, although the accompanying DVD, raw footage and deafening sound, shows you how broadly Lou is smiling. If you love the machine, this is incredible. Violin is the dominant instrument, but every different frequency, every pulse and squeak and barely audible burble is recaptured by a different hand. German avant-gardists Zeitkratzer are the brains behind the rebuilding, and they know their metal music well enough to recast it as a primarily acoustic performance, re-creating the peaks and troughs of the original soundscape and even drawing in those fabulous sequences where you think...you're sure...you'd almost swear...that there are actual snatches of music dancing in the distance, backwards classics and the ghosts of riffs. In fact, the only failing that immediately comes to mind is that the live performance is about 15 minutes shorter than the original album. But there are some folk who might call that a blessing. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bill Stafford Project Coordinator Bob Ludwig Digital Remastering Brad Conger Redesign Brooke Nochomson Project Coordinator Dana Renert Project Coordinator David Fricke Liner Notes Felicia Gearhart Project Coordinator Jeremy Holiday Production Coordination John Hudson Product Manager Larry Parra Project Coordinator Lou Reed Vocals, Keyboards, Producer, Guitar Rob Santos Reissue Producer Robin Diamond Project Coordinator Robin Manning Project Coordinator Stephanie Kika Project Coordinator Steve Strauss Production Assistant Tom Tierney Production Assistant Traci Werbel Production Assistant