Still Machine

With their latest effort, Echoes Within, the Chicago-based trio fearlessly confronts the universal but often unshared emotions of the inter- and intrapersonal in a world going mad. It's an album that doesn't let its audience off the hook, yet it offers a path to catharsis, a sonic therapy session for the unspoken. The record's title captures its essence—the contemplative melodies and simple, lush arrangements delve inward, exploring those feelings that remain as a psychic reverberation for the listener.

The band—Ray Dybzinski (vocals, guitar), Jason Goldberg (bass, keys, backing vocals), and Matt Martin (drums, percussion, backing vocals, keys)—are veterans, their collective history spanning multiple epochs and genres. From Beak to World Leader Pretend and The Timeout Drawer, their resumes are long, evidence of lives engulfed in music. While honing their chops in earlier projects, members of the group have shared stages with marquee acts like R.E.M., Killing Joke, The National, and Fugazi, an index to their versatility and deep-seated roots in post-punk, indie rock, and beyond.