Band : Machiavel
Album title : Acoustic
Label : Moonzo/Universal
Distributor : Universal – Music Shock
Release Date : 08/05/2009
Release : CD

For the younger people visiting this website, Machiavel is a Belgian band, originally founded way back in the seventies.  Their first album was released in 1976.  Several changes in line-up obviously had their influence on their musical style, which I would describe as rock, but with a lot of other influences.

Originally very successful in the French speaking part of Belgium, the release of their fifth album "New Lines" in 1980, which had a tougher edge then the previous albums, and especially the release of the single "Fly", also proved successful in the northern part of Belgium.  Those were the golden days of Belgian rock music, since a lot of groups could have been successful abroad, if only some decent PR work had been done, but alas...

This latest album of Machiavel was recorded in 2008, during the Unplugged tour.  The sound is a mix of acoustic guitars, piano, percussion and voices.

All songs are taken from previous releases by the group, and were rearranged, some even rather drastically, so for those of you who know the original version it might sound as a surprise.
Ranging from jazzy, to Reggae, and even some eastern influences, this album as far as I'm concerned is not intended for fans of real heavy rock, but it's more intended for easy listening, on a sunny afternoon, lazing in the sun, with something nice to drink, and in good company.  So even though it's not really my cup of tea, all in all not bad effort by these guys,  and for the real fans it might be an album they were waiting for.

70/100

Erik Morren.