Esteem (album)

Esteem is the debut studio album from Australian synthpop band Machinations. The album was released in April 1983 on White Label Records,[1] a subsidiary of Mushroom Records.

Esteem
Studio album by
Machinations
ReleasedApril 1983
GenreSynthpop
Length36:38
LabelWhite
A&M
ProducerLobby Loyde, Paul Radcliffe, Russell Dunlop, Bruce Brown
Machinations chronology
Esteem
(1983)		 Big Music
(1985)
Singles from Esteem
  1. "Jack"
    Released: January 1983
  2. "Pressure Sway"
    Released: April 1983

History

In late 1980, Machinations recorded some songs at Trafalgar Studios in November 1980, the band entered the studio with producer Lobby Loyde.[2] These recordings resulted in the band's debut single, "Average Inadequacy"/"Arabia" in September 1981, and the four-track debut self-titled, Machinations EP, in December, both released on the independent Phantom Records label.[3]

"Average Inadequacy" created enough interest for Mushroom's White Label to sign the band[2] and reissue the single with a new B-side, "Machinations of Dance" in March 1982.[3] A year later, Machinations issued a new single, "Jack"/"Be Double" in February 1983, prior to their debut album release, but it failed to chart. Esteem peaked at #54 on the Australian album charts.[4] It was also released in the United States by A&M Records. Musically, the album contained synthpop with dark overtones, except for the single "Pressure Sway", a bright funk/pop song that was a dance-floor favourite.

Reception

Cash Box magazine said "In the disquieting-but-danceable style of Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode, Australian quartet Machinations make rhythmic music with sinister overtones. The emphasis here is on extended cuts with oblique lyrics, creating a sustained, almost hypnotic mood. Vocalist Fred Loneragan has a limited range, but uses what he has effectively to express alienated sentiments."[5]

Singles

The first single, "Jack" was about US writer Jack Kerouac, and due to lyrical reference to illegal drugs ('I wanna take some 1960s LSD'), "Jack" was often not played in live sets when audiences included minors.

The second single off the album, "Pressure Sway", was released in April 1983 and reached #21 on the Australian singles charts during July 1983.[4] It was released as both a 7" and 12" version. "Pressure Sway" also made an impact in the United States reaching #40 on Billboard's Club Play Singles chart.[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Doyle, Loneragan, Starr, Swan.[7]


Australian release[8]

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Esteem"6:38
2."Pressure Sway"3:53
3."Transient"6:58
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Castle Hunting"4:28
2."Jack"3:27
3."Terminal Wharf"5:28
4."The Hunt"5:16


American release[9]

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Pressure Sway"4:05
2."Jump the Gap"4:19
3."Average Inadequacy"3:46
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Esteem"6:42
2."Jack"3:35
3."Transient"6:55

Charts
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 54

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[11] Gold 20,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

References
  1. Holmgren, Magnus. "Machinations". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  2. "Big Music from Machinations". RetroUniverse. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  3. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Machinations'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 3 December 1983. p. 33. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  6. "Billboard singles charts". allmusic. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  7. "(APRA WebWorks) Works Search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2009. NOTE: Requires user to input song title, e.g. ESTEEM
  8. "Release "Esteem" by Machinations - MusicBrainz".
  9. "Release "Esteem" by Machinations - MusicBrainz".
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 186. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. "Absolute 80s" (PDF). www.popshop.com.au. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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