Reviewed by Alex Figgis

If a switch in both record label (from Geffen to Metal Blade) and lead guitarist (from Dane Sonnier to Wally Farkas) isn't radical enough for you, 'Machine Fish' also reveals a healthy change in both lyrical and musical direction...yes, the Cowboys seem to have boldly gone where they have never been before! But, fear not, this album still boasts the same level of lyrical wit and vocal harmonisation as demonstrated on previous outings. On 'Machine Fish' the Cowboys brave the horns of such topics as "The Struggle" we face between our flesh and spirit in our daily walk with Christ ("Chains made of flesh/Shackles made of death/Peace to my right/Spirit of life"); the need to test all things in the light of false teachings, ideologies and prophecies as in "Idle Minds" ("Idle minds wait for signs out of line/You can keep your solutions, propaganda, justice, paranoia"); "The Lens" ("This blackened heart wears virgin. white/Oppression lit by candle light") and "The 9th Of July" ("The words of man/Will lead astray/False prophecies/But no man knows the day"); and faith "In A Lonely Room" ("Livin' in the darkness/I have a shadow/I feel a spirit/I feel the ghost/Never letting me go..."), to name but a few. In my opinion, 'Machine Fish' is by far the Galactic Cowboys' best work...but don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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